Manufacturing’s sales value up by 6.5 pct

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s manufacturing sector’s sales value rose modestly by 6.5 per cent to RM148 billion in January 2023 compared to 8.8 per cent in the preceding month, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the continuous positive momentum was fortified by the double-digit growth in transport equipment and other manufactures (14 per cent) as well as the petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products (10.1 per cent) sub-sectors.

“Nonetheless, the sales value registered in January was the lowest recorded since May 2022,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He said the sales value of export-oriented industries which contributed 71.3 per cent of total sales, posted a slower growth of 6.9 per cent in January against 9.2 per cent in December 2022.

“The moderate performance was also in line with the deceleration in exports of manufactured products during the month,” he said.

A similar trend was recorded in the domestic-oriented industries’ sales value which moderated to 5.6 per cent from 7.7 per cent growth in the preceding month.

“In comparison with the previous month, sales value for export-oriented industries continued to decline for four consecutive months, registering a negative 6.9 per cent in January, while domestic-oriented industries dipped by 1.6 per cent,” he added.

Commenting on the number of employees, Mohd Uzir said there were 2.34 million persons engaged in the manufacturing sector in January, an increase of 3.0 per cent compared to 2.27 million persons registered a year ago (December 2022: 3.4 per cent).

The increment was mainly attributable to the rise in the number of employees in the food, beverages & tobacco products (4.7 per cent); electrical and electronic products (4.3 per cent); and petroleum, chemical, rubber & plastic products (2.1 per cent) sub-sectors.

Resembling the positive trend in employment, the salaries and wages paid in the manufacturing sector rose four per cent, totalling RM8.18 billion in January 2023 with the average monthly salaries and wages per employee of RM3,494, posted an increase of 1.0 per cent year-on-year, he said.

He added that the sales value per employee was RM63,200 which grew by 3.4 per cent compared to the same month in the preceding year. — Bernama