MALAYSIA’S manufacturing sector’s sales value rose modestly by 6.5% to RM148 billion in January 2023 compared to 8.8% the preceding month, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) said today.

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

He said the sales value of export-dependent industries which contributed 71.3% of total sales, posted a slower growth of 6.9% in January against 9.2% 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% from 7.7% growth the preceding month.

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

Commenting on the number of employees, Uzir said the manufacturing sector employed 2.34 million people in January, an increase of 3.0% compared to 2.27 million people registered a year ago.

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

Resembling the positive trend in employment, the salaries and wages paid in the manufacturing sector rose 4%, 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% year-on-year, he said.

He added that the sales value per employee was RM63,200, which grew by 3.4% compared to the same month in the preceding year. – Bernama, March 13, 2023.