PHILIPPINE manufacturing growth lost some momentum in July as the sector faced slower increases in both production volume and value, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Results of the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (Missi) showed that the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) rose 6.4 in July, slower than the revised 10.6-percent growth in June.
In July 2025, the index declined by 0.1 percent.
The moderation in production volume was mainly driven by slower growth in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products, which expanded by 43.8 percent in July from 87 percent a month earlier.
The manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products also posted slower growth at 10.8 percent, compared with 16.3 percent in the previous month.
Still, several industries continued to post growth during the month. Of the 22 manufacturing industry divisions, PSA said 11 recorded annual increases in production volume, while nine posted declines.
The Value of Production Index (VaPI) also slowed in July, increasing by 9.6 percent from 13.9 percent in June. In July 2025, VaPI contracted by 0.2 percent.
The manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products again accounted for much of the moderation.
Its VaPI growth slowed to 47.2 percent in July from 89.3 percent in June, contributing 61.4 percent to the deceleration in overall manufacturing VaPI growth.
Meanwhile, the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products posted 17.2-percent growth in VaPI, slower than the 22.8 percent recorded in June.
Despite the slower production growth, PSA said capacity utilization remained broadly steady in July.
The average capacity utilization rate stood at 78.8 percent, slightly lower than the 78.9 percent recorded in June but higher than the 77.6 percent posted in July 2025.
Of the 739 establishments that responded to the PSA survey, 36.7 percent operated at 90 percent to 100 percent capacity, while 38.3 percent operated at 70 percent to 89 percent capacity. Another 25 percent operated below 70-percent capacity.
Tobacco products recorded the highest utilization rate at 85.6 percent, followed by coke and refined petroleum products and leather and related products, including footwear, both at 83.5 percent.
The Missi or the Production Index and Net Sales Index monitors the production, net sales, inventories, and capacity utilization of selected manufacturing establishments to provide flash indicators on the performance of the manufacturing sector.