Philippines Manufacturing Output Growth Picks Up in August

Manufacturing production in the Philippines grew by 12.7% year-on-year in September 2026, following a downwardly revised 10% increase in the previous month. This marked the fastest pace of growth since June, driven mainly by a sharp increase in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (39.6% vs 25% in August), which accounted for 34.2% of the overall growth acceleration. Other major contributors included basic metals (37.1% vs 24.6%), transport equipment (16.1% vs 9.1%), and rubber and plastic products (18% vs 13.8%). Meanwhile, growth in the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products moderated to 23.4% from 30.7%. At the same time, food production fell by 2.9%, reversing a 0.3% rise in the prior month, amid a slowdown in six of the eight industry groups, led by the manufacture of prepared animal feeds (5.8% vs 17.9%). For the January-September period, manufacturing output was 9.3% higher than in the same period last year.

Manufacturing production in the Philippines increased by 10.8% year-on-year in August, accelerating from an upwardly revised 9.9% rise in the previous month. The largest positive contribution came from the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products (30.1% vs 15.8%), which accounted for 57.3% of the acceleration in the annual growth rate. Other major contributors included the manufacture of transport equipment (11.5% vs 4.9%), basic metals (27.2% vs 23.9%), rubber and plastic products (15.0% vs 9.9%), electrical equipment (10.9% vs 2.9%), and beverages (4.2% vs 3.6%). Meanwhile, production growth moderated for coke and refined petroleum products (24.7% vs 47.6%) and food products (1.3% vs 2.6%). For the January-August period, manufacturing output was 9.3% higher than in the same period a year earlier.

Manufacturing production in the Philippines rose by 9.6% year-on-year in July 2026, marking the softest growth since February and slowing from an upwardly revised 13.9% gain in the previous month. The slowdown was largely driven by a sharp moderation in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (47.2% vs 89.3% in June), alongside slower growth in computer, electronic and optical products (17.2% vs 22.8%), food products (2.8% vs 4.4%), and transport equipment (6.5% vs 7.8%). At the same time, output declined for chemicals and chemical products (-19.0% vs -11.8%), machinery and equipment excluding electrical (-16.5% vs -17.0%), and pharmaceutical products (-10.8% vs 5.9%). On the other hand, production accelerated in basic metals (24.2% vs 22.8%), furniture (23.9% vs 66.6%), leather and related products (35.4% vs 21.7%), and apparel (10.4% vs -2.3%). For the January-July period, industrial activity grew by 8.6%, compared with the corresponding period a year earlier.