2025.12.0901:36:11UTC+00Philippine Industrial Output Edges Up in October

In October 2025, the Philippines saw a slight increase in annual manufacturing production, rising to 1.7% from a revised 1.6% in September. This rise was primarily driven by a boost in the output of computer, electronic, and optical products, which jumped to 16.8% from 4.8% in the prior month. The production of basic pharmaceutical products and preparations also saw a notable increase, reaching 20.8% from 9.1%. Other sectors contributing to this growth included beverages (up 4.3% from 1.5%) and furniture (rising to 7.6% from 1.1%).

Moreover, there was a recovery in production for wood, bamboo, cane, and rattan products, which improved significantly to 15.1% from a prior decline of 6.3%. Similarly, other non-metallic mineral products rebounded to 2.8% from a decrease of 0.8%, and rubber and plastic products increased to 2.4% from a fall of 1.9%.

Conversely, some sectors experienced declines. Paper and paper products saw a decrease of 2.7% after previously growing by 2.0%. The output for wearing apparel fell sharply by 17.3% after a prior drop of 7.9%. Additionally, production of machinery and equipment, excluding electrical items, contracted further by 12.3% from a previous decline of 3.1%, and basic metals decreased significantly by 22.5% from a 10.9% drop.

On a month-to-month basis, adjusted for seasonal variations, industrial activity decreased by 0.4%, showing some improvement from a 1.0% decline in the preceding period.