The manufacturing industry is still on the downside as shown by the 12.8 percent decline in the value of production index (VaPI) in June 2009 compared to the same period last year.

This was disclosed by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in its preliminary results of the monthly integrated survey of selected industries (MISSI).

NSO noted some significant reductions in value of production for petroleum products with a decrease of 48.5 percent, followed by eight major sectors that posted two-digit declines such as furniture and fixtures, leather products, paper and paper products, beverages, footwear and wearing apparel, basic metals, transport equipment, and chemical products.

On a month-on-month comparison, VaPI on the other hand recorded an increase of 3.0 percent in June 2009. Thirteen major sectors contributed to the growth led by miscellaneous manufactures, fabricated metal products, and electrical machinery.

The volume of production Index (VoPI) continued to decline at a slower rate of 10.8 percent, showing an improvement from its two-digit decrease of 12.1 percent in May 2009.

The major sectors with two-digit decreases were leather products, footwear and wearing apparel, beverages, petroleum products, paper and paper products, chemical products, wood and wood products, furniture and fixtures, basic metals, machinery except electrical, transport equipment and publishing and printing. (EHL)