Manufacturing output increased by 0.4% between February 2015 and March 2015. The main contributors to the increase were basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations; other manufacturing and repair; and rubber, plastic products and other non-metallic mineral products.
In the three months to March 2015, production and manufacturing were 10.2% and 4.8% respectively below their figures reached in the pre-downturn GDP peak in Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2008.
Lee Hopley, chief economist at manufacturers' organisation the EEF, said: "Growth in manufacturing output has slowed to 0.1% for the first quarter of 2015, following a weaker than expected performance in key export markets and some domestic headwinds."
She added: "Despite the slackening pace of growth, manufacturing output has increased every single quarter in the past two years and with surveys showing solid industry confidence this is expected to continue through 2015.
"Still, recent data releases reinforce business calls for government to stick with its industrial strategy and maintain funding for important levers of growth, including research and innovation and support for exporters."
Total production output is estimated to have increased by 0.7% in March 2015 compared with March 2014. Manufacturing output was the largest contributor, increasing by 1.1%.
