The value of manufacturing sales fell in the June 2015 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Total manufacturing sales for the quarter were $23.4 billion, down nearly $1.3 billion (5.1 percent) on the June 2014 quarter.

"The fall in sales compared with the June quarter last year is chiefly due to price falls in dairy and petroleum products," business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said.

After adjusting for seasonal and price effects, the volume of total manufacturing sales fell 0.2 percent in the June 2015 quarter compared with the March 2015 quarter. This was led by a fall in petroleum and coal product manufacturing, down 5.2 percent in the June 2015 quarter, following large increases in the previous two quarters.

"Meat and dairy product manufacturing volumes have also fallen slightly this quarter, after a larger fall in the March 2015 quarter," Mr Kelly said. 

The sales volume for total manufacturing, excluding meat and dairy, was up 0.6 percent in the June 2015 quarter. Sales rose for seven of the 12 manufacturing industries in the group.

The trend for total manufacturing sales volume, which gives a longer-term picture of movements, has been flat for over a year.