Factory output grows at fastest pace in 8 months

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April 8, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s manufacturing output in February grew at its fastest pace in eight months driven by the production of basic metals and food items, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Preliminary results of the PSA’s Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries showed that the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) for manufacturing posted a faster increase of 3.2 percent in February from the previous month’s 1.3 percent.

The February VoPI reading was a turnaround from the two percent contraction in the same month last year.

It was also the highest VoPI growth rate since the 3.4 percent increase in June 2025.

The PSA attributed the higher VoPI growth to the production of basic metals, food and beverages in February.

In particular, manufacture of basic metals grew by 18.7 percent in February, reversing the 6.1 percent decline in the previous month.

Food production also grew at a faster rate of 3.4 percent in February from 1.5 percent in January.

Beverage production likewise saw a faster increase of 7.2 percent in February from 0.5 percent in the previous month.

Of the remaining 19 industry divisions, nine posted increases in February such as computer, electronic and optical products; other manufacturing and repair and installation of machinery and equipment; other non-metallic mineral products; tobacco products; electrical equipment; furniture; rubber and plastic products; leather and related products including footwear and apparel.

On the other hand, 10 industry divisions saw declines in VoPI in February.

These are paper and paper products; wood, bamboo, cane, rattan articles and related products; textiles; printing and reproduction of recorded media; transport equipment; chemicals and chemical products; machinery and equipment except electrical; fabricated metal products except machinery and equipment; basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations and coke and refined petroleum products.

Based on responding establishments, the average capacity utilization rate for manufacturing in February was at 77.5 percent, down slightly from 77.8 percent in the previous month.