Malaysia gaining momentum in aerospace parts and components export

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is gaining momentum in the export of aerospace parts and components after the industry’s strong growth in 2016, said International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

He said Malaysia’s exports of aerospace products recorded a significant increase of 32.6 per cent in 2016 valued at RM5.53 billion compared to RM4.17 billion in 2015, with aerospace parts and components being the main export.

In a statement following the Malaysian Aerospace Council (MAC) meeting yesterday, Mustapa said the positive growth was portrayed in the total revenue recorded in 2016 which totalled RM12.7 billion.

“It was a remarkable year particularly for the aerospace manufacturing sub-sector which secured a revenue of RM6.4 billion, an 11 per cent increase compared to 2015.

“The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sub-sector recorded RM5.7 billion in revenue, mainly supported by the expansion of aero- engine and component MRO activities,” he added.

Mustapa said in 2016, nine aerospace projects with investments totalling RM1.6 billion were approved, out of which RM889.4 million were foreign investments.

The projects were expected to generate 1,766 employment opportunities.

As part of the government’s efforts to develop small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the global aerospace supply chain, he said a structured SME development programme was launched under the Economic Transformation Programme’s Business Services Entry Point Project (EPP) 8.

In 2016, 10 SMEs were selected to participate in the programme and another 10 were to be selected for this year’s programme, said the statement.

Mustapa said a new set of key performance indicators were to be achieved for this year’s EPP8 - RM24.6 million cumulative sales for 20 SMEs and 500 Requests for Quotations for 10 new SMEs in 2017. — Bernama THE Kuala Lumpur Tin Market (KLTM) strengthened further to close US$50 higher yesterday at US$19,850 per tonne and despite the lower overnight close in the metal price on the London Metal Exchange (LME).

The LME tin price fell US$90 to US$19,830 per tonne.

A dealer said the KLTM price