Production also increased by 0.3% compared to the previous quarter.
However, a year-on-year comparison showed that growth for total manufacturing production in all industries was higher than food and drink industry production growth, at 4.1% versus 1.4% compared to the third quarter of 2016. The same trend was also seen for turnover – 5.4% vs. 6.8% compared to Q3 2016.
Employment within the food sector remained on a path to growth, increasing by 0.5%, and the food and drink industry continues to outperform the manufacturing sector for employment growth, according to data compiled by Eurostat.
Meanwhile, EU exports of food and drink products totalled €27.9 billion in the third quarter of 2017, which marks a 7.4% increase compared to the same quarter last year, the economic bulletin said.
The EU’s best performing export products were meat products, spirits, dairy products, wine, chocolate and confectionery, which together generated €13.7 billion in value.
