A survey on manufacturing has shown that the pace of growth in the sector slowed last month, while employment fell for the first time in a year.
The NCB Purchasing Managers' Index recorded 51.7, down from 53.3 in February and below the recent average. Any figure above 50 represents growth.
Though firms reported a strong increase in production, growth in new orders at 52 was the lowest for almost two years.
Prices charged by companies continued to rise sharply, in line with input prices. The prices charged index was 56.8, while the input costs index recorded 63.3.
The employment index was 49.1, down from 51.9 in February. Firms linked the fall partly to the movement of production to Eastern Europe.
