TAIPEI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's manufacturing sector returned to "sluggish growth" in March from February's "contraction," according to a leading economic think tank.

The monthly composite index for the sector rose 2.14 points to 10.88 points in March and flashed a yellow-blue light, according to a report from the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER) Friday.

The organization uses five colors to describe economic activity, with yellow-blue representing sluggish growth and blue indicating contraction.

The biggest contributor to the rise was increasing investments in raw materials, according to TIER, adding that 40.68 percent of the surveyed industries turned on a blue light in March, sharply down from the 90.72 percent in the previous month.

It also gave a "sluggish growth" forecast for the sector's performance for the whole year.