Factory output recovers in August

The Philippine manufacturing sector rebounded in August, with output returning to positive territory, driven by the performance of the food and metals sectors.

- By LOUELLA DESIDERIO

Preliminary data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) yesterday showed that the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) for manufacturing posted a 1.4-percent increment in August from a 1.8-percent contraction in July.

VoPI growth in August was also slightly faster than the 1.3-percent uptick in the same month last year.

The PSA said the uptrend was primarily due to food products, which accelerated by 20.2 percent in August from the previous month’s 11.4 percent.

Basic metals, which registered a slower decline of 9.6 percent in August from 26.8 percent in the previous month, also contributed to the latest VoPI growth.