Factory output picks up in April

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June 8, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s manufacturing output posted growth in April, driven mainly by the uptick in production of basic metals, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Preliminary results of the PSA’s Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries showed the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) for manufacturing registered a 4.2-percent growth in April, a turnaround from the two-percent contraction in March.

The VOPI growth in April, however, was lower than the 7.3-percent uptick in the same month last year.

Average VoPI growth from January to April was at 0.2 percent.

The PSA said the VOPI growth was primarily driven by the uptrend in the manufacture of basic metals.

In particular, basic metals posted an 18.3-percent growth in April from a 43.7-percent decline in March.

Of the remaining 21 industry divisions, 11 posted annual increases in April this year, while 10 registered declines.

Those which posted increases were food products; transport equipment; computer, electronic and optical products; other non-metallic mineral products; tobacco products; leather and related products including footwear; electrical equipment; fabricated metal products except machinery and equipment; furniture; wood, bamboo, cane, rattan articles and related products; as well as machinery and equipment except electrical.

Industries with negative growth rates were basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations; textiles; rubber and plastic products; wearing apparel; paper and paper products; printing and reproduction of recorded media; beverages; other manufacturing and repair and installation of machinery and equipment; coke and refined petroleum products; as well as chemicals and chemical products.

Based on responding establishments, the average capacity utilization rate for manufacturing in April was at 76.6 percent, up from the previous month’s 76.2 percent.

“All industry divisions reported capacity utilization rates of more than 60 percent during the month,” the PSA said.

Industries with the highest reported capacity utilization rate were tobacco products at 88.5 percent, other non-metallic mineral products at 83.6 percent and furniture at 81.1 percent.

The PSA said 31.6 percent of establishments operated at full capacity or 90 percent to 100 percent.

It added that 41.4 percent operated at 70 to 89 percent capacity, while 27 percent were running below 70 percent capacity.