The value and volume of manufacturing output returned to the growth path in January, growing by 2.6 percent and 0.2 percent year on year, respectively, according to the National Statistics Office.
NSO data showed that in January, growth in value bounced back from a decline of 6.2 percent in December while volume growth recovered from a decrease of 7.6 percent.
Results from the agency’s latest monthly integrated survey of selected industries (MISSI) – which covers 20 major industries – showed that the index grew as five industries recorded two-digit increases in output value.
Leading the gainers were furniture and fixtures with 48.3 percent and publishing and printing with 20.9 percent.
Also growing at two-digit rates were footwear and wearing apparel (16.6 percent), petroleum products (16.1 percent) and food manufacturing (12.2 percent).
Other gainers in January were rubber and plastics products, non-metallic mineral products, non-electrical machinery, and wood and wood products.
On the other hand, 11 sectors showed reduced output value led by fabricated metal products (25.4 percent), leather products (24.2 percent), tobacco products (23.6 percent) and textiles (13.8 percent).
Other losers were electrical machinery, transport equipment, chemical products, basic metals, beverages, miscellaneous manufactured items, and paper and paper products.
In terms of volume, significant increases were observed in four industries including furniture and fixtures (109.9 percent), publishing and printing (20.9 percent), footwear and wearing apparel (16.2 percent) and wood (11.4 percent).
Other volume gainers were food manufacturing, petroleum, non-metallic minerals, miscellaneous manufactures, and rubber and plastic.
There were six that lost volume at two digit levels, including tobacco (22.9 percent), fabricated metals (20.4 percent), leather (20.3 percent), textiles (13.3 percent), non-electrical machinery (11.6 percent) and transport equipment (10.8 percent).