Factory output accelerates in September

The country’s manufacturing output rose at a faster pace in September, driven mainly by the production of petroleum, beverages and electronic products, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

- By LOUELLA DESIDERIO

Preliminary results of the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries released by the PSA yesterday showed that the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) grew by 1.3 percent in September, faster than the 0.9 percent uptick in the previous month and an improvement from the 5.6 percent contraction in September last year.

The PSA attributed the faster VoPI growth in September primarily to three sectors.

In particular, it said that the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products experienced a slower decline of 3.2 percent in September, compared to 12.1 percent in August.

Beverage production grew by 2.9 percent in September from an 8.2 percent contraction in the previous month.