The manufacturing sector has sustained its two-digit growth as shown by the 18.7 percent increase in the value of production index (VaPI) in May 2010 compared to the same period last year.

Preliminary results of the monthly integrated survey of selected Industries (MISSI) conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) revealed that 16 out of 20 major sectors exhibited increases in production values with petroleum products contributing the largest increase of 75.2 percent.

Ten other major sectors that posted two-digit increases included electrical machinery, transport equipment, machinery except electrical, paper and paper products, miscellaneous manufactures, wood and wood products, basic metal, leather products, beverages and rubber and plastic products.

On a month-on-month comparison, VaPI continued to grow as it posted an increase of 5 percent in May 2010. This was brought about by the expanded production performance of 18 major sectors led by tobacco products, with two-digit growth of 90.5 percent.

On a year-on-year basis, the volume of production Index (VoPI) accelerated in May 2010 registering a two-digit growth of 25.5 percent.

Twelve of 16 major sectors influenced the increase in output include electrical machinery, machinery except electrical, petroleum products, miscellaneous manufactures, transport equipment, paper and paper products, wood and wood products, furniture and fixtures, basic metals, rubber and plastic products, beverages and leather products.

VoPI climbed further as it recorded a month-on-month increase of 4.9 percent in May 2010. Seventeen major sectors accounted for the growth in production output led by tobacco products with 90.5 percent.

Other major sectors that exhibited two-digit increases were leather products, paper and paper products, electrical machinery and wood and wood products.

NSO said the value of net sales index (VaNSI) continued to experience a two-digit growth of 19.1 percent in May, 2010 compared with the year-ago figure.

Significant increases were observed in petroleum products, wood and wood products, basic metals, transport equipment, miscellaneous manufactures, electrical machinery, paper and paper products, machinery except electrical, beverages and leather products.