French industrial production as a whole rose by 1% in March despite falls in transport and the auto sector, after stagnating in February, official data showed on May 10.
Manufacturing output rose by 0.8%, after a more modest rise the previous month of 0.3%, the statistics institute INSEE said.
The rise in French industrial production for the first quarter, at 3.9%, has now reached higher levels than at the same period last year at the height of the financial crisis, the figures showed.
"Growth is well and truly back in French industry. But activity remains sharply down on the pre-crisis period," said economist Alexander Law from French research firm Xerfi.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010
