MANILA, Philippines — Domestic manufacturing managed to expand in February amid disruptions caused by the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 at that time, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported yesterday.
Factory output, as measured by the Volume of Production Index (VoPI), accelerated to three percent in February from a growth of 0.1 percent in January and negative growth of 9.3 percent in February.
Double-digit growths were seen in the indexes of machinery except electrical, chemical products, beverages, food manufacturing, printing, wood and wood products and fabricated metal products.
Growth in output was also seen in non-metallic mineral products and rubber and plastic products.
Diminished output, meanwhile, was seen in petroleum products, electrical machinery, tobacco products, basic metals, miscellaneous manufactures, furniture and fixtures, paper and paper products, textiles, transport equipment, and leather products.
Production value, meanwhile, as measured by the Value of Production Index (VaPI) declined at a softer pace of 1.8 percent in February from 5.2 percent in January and 6.2 percent in February 2019.
Most of the manufacturing facilities in the counrty operated at near full capacity in February as seen in the average capacity utilization rate for total manufacturing of 84.6 percent.
Twelve of the 20 major industries had at least 80 percent capacity utilization rates during the month, with the highest capacity utilization rates seen in petroleum.
More than a quarter of manufacturing establishments in the country operated at full capacity of 90 to 100 percent, while more than half operated at 70 to 89 percent capacity.
A fifth, meanwhile, operated at below 70 percent capacity.