Philippine Industrial Output Recovers to 4-Month High

Manufacturing production in the Philippines climbed 1.9% year-on-year in December 2025, recovering from a downwardly revised 1% decline in the previous month. This marked the highest reading since August, mainly driven by a faster annual increase in the manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products (29.5% vs 4.4% in November), which contributed 23.2% to the overall uptrend in manufacturing production. Activity also rebounded in machinery and equipment except electrical (9.7% vs -11.1%), and other manufacturing and repair and installation of machinery and equipment (13.8% vs -4.4%). In addition, output rose for transport equipment (6.7% vs 0.2%). Meanwhile, production growth slowed for leather and related products (4.6% vs 27.7%), and wood, bamboo, cane, and rattan products (3.4% vs 17.5%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial activity jumped 4.7%, rebounding from a 3.2% fall in the prior month.