Manufacturers are looking forward to a profitable 2016 after finishing the year full of confidence.
The latest Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Westpac industrial trends survey showed business conditions have improved strongly over the past year, coming off the boil only slightly in the final three months of the year.
"Manufacturers are feeling positive with their assessment of general business conditions in the next six months, the highest since 2009," chamber boss Kate Carnell said in a statement on Thursday.
The survey's composite index for conditions moderated 3.2 points to 53.5 points in the December quarter, but remained comfortably above the historic average of 49 points.
The expectations for the composite index rose one point to 60.8 points.
Westpac senior economist Andrew Hanlan said manufacturing had been a key beneficiary of low interest rates and a lower Australian dollar.
"The sharp drop in the Australian dollar is reshaping the economy," he said.
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