Hong Kong manufacturers upped their output in the fourth quarter, although the city's producer price index (PPI) pointed to persistent inflation, officials reported Thursday.

An index of industrial production for Hong Kong-based manufacturing industries increased by 1% in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, reported the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, Hong Kong's factory output increased by 1.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024 from the third quarter, added C&SD.

For 2024 as a whole, Hong Kong manufacturing industries' output rose by 0.8% on year, said the Hong Kong agency.

In the category of "metal, computer, electronic and optical products, machinery and equipment industry," output of Hong Kong manufacturers rose 3.2% in the fourth quarter on a year reported the C&SD.

In contrast, in Hong Kong the output of paper products, printing and reproduction of recorded media industry in the fourth quarter fell 2.8% on year, that of textiles and wearing apparel industry fell 0.8%, and that of the food, beverages and tobacco industries fell 0.3% on year.

Hong Kong manufacturers faced and charged higher prices in the fourth quarter.

The city's PPI rose by 4.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024 on year, after logging a lesser 3.2% on-year gain in the third quarter.

For 2024 as a whole, the Hong Kong PPI rose by 2.9% on year, added the C&SD.

In the fourth quarter, increases in producer prices were recorded mainly in the "metal, computer, electronic and optical products, machinery and equipment industry", which rose 7.7% on year, reported officials.

In contrast, in the fourth quarter, producer prices fell in Hong Kong's textiles and wearing apparel industries, by 1.2% on year reported the C&SD.