Manila: Factory output growth accelerated in April, reversing the decline seen in the previous month, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday showed. Results of the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries indicated a 4.3 percent growth in the value of production index (VaPI), marking a significant recovery from the 1.4 percent contraction in March.

According to Philippines News Agency, the resurgence in the annual rate of VaPI for manufacturing in April 2025 was chiefly due to a substantial increase in the manufacture of basic metals. The sector experienced a remarkable 17.3 percent rise during the month, rebounding from a significant 43.8 percent drop in the previous month.

The volume of production index (VoPI) also reflected positive growth, increasing by 4.2 percent, a notable improvement from the 2 percent decline recorded in March. The PSA highlighted that the primary driver of this growth was the uptrend in the VaPI for the manufacture of basic metals, which saw an 18.3 percent increase after experiencing a 43.7 percent annual decline in March 2025.

Furthermore, the PSA reported a slight uptick in the average capacity utilization rate for manufacturing, which rose to 76.6 percent from 76.2 percent in March. All industry divisions recorded capacity utilization rates exceeding 60 percent for the month.

The highest reported capacity utilization rates were observed in the manufacture of tobacco products at 88.5 percent, other non-metallic mineral products at 83.6 percent, and furniture at 81.1 percent.