MALAYSIA’s wholesale and retail trade registered a sturdy growth year-on-year (y-o-y) of 44% to RM132.8 billion in June 2022 with a huge surge in motor vehicle sales, the Statistics Department (DOSM) said. 

Chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the improved performance was attributed to the retail trade sub-sector, which rose by RM15.6 billion, or 38.4%, to RM56.2 billion, while wholesale trade expanded 19.3%, or by RM9.8 billion, to RM60.5 billion. 

“Within the same period, motor vehicles surged 1,642.8%, or RM15.2 billion, to RM16.1 billion,” DOSM said. 

For month-on-month comparison, sales value increased by 2.5%, contributed by the motor vehicle sub-sector, which rose by 15.8%. 

DOSM said the higher growth in the motor vehicle sub-sector this month was lifted by motor vehicle sales, which saw a rise of 2,430.2%, or RM8.5 billion, to RM8.8 billion.

This was followed by motor vehicle parts and accessories, which rose by 1,026.2%; maintenance and repair of motor vehicles (up 1,211.2%); and sales, maintenance and motorcycle repairs (up 1,693.8%). 

In terms of volume index, the wholesale and retail trade registered a y-o-y growth of 35.8%, mainly driven by motor vehicle and retail trade, which increased by 1,529.9% and 31.3%, respectively. 

Similarly, wholesale trade also recorded positive growth of 10.7%. However, for the seasonally adjusted volume index, it was down 2.3% month-on-month. – Bernama, August 11, 2022.