MONTEVIDEO, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Uruguay's manufacturing output grew by an average of 2.7 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year, largely driven by increased oil refining, according to data released on Wednesday by the National Statistics Institute.

The Manufacturing Industry's Physical Volume Index showed that petroleum refining had the largest positive impact, with a 50.6 percent year-on-year increase and a 1.7 percentage-point contribution to overall growth. This surge followed a maintenance shutdown at the state-owned oil company, the National Administration of Fuels, Alcohols and Portland in 2024.

Despite the increase in output, industrial employment declined, with the Index of Hours Worked falling by 1.6 percent over the year and the Index of Employed Personnel by 1.7 percent. The administration has emphasized the need to strengthen productivity and develop value chains to support a broader industrial recovery. ■