MANUFACTURING SALES UP 8.6 PCT TO RM156.3 BLN IN DEC 2022 -- DOSM

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- The sales value of  Malaysia’s manufacturing sector expanded by 8.6 per cent year-on-year in December 2022 to RM156.3 billion while the overall performance reached RM1.8 trillion in 2022, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM).

In a statement today, chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the expansion of sales value in December last year was reinforced by the double-digit growth in transport equipment and other manufactures subsector (10.9 per cent), particularly in the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers industries.

“The growth was also attributable to the strong increase in petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products subsector (10.3 per cent) supported by the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products industries, as well as the manufacture of food, beverages and tobacco subsector which accelerated further to 10.3 per cent underpinned by the manufacture of food products,” he shared.

He noted that the sales value of export-oriented industries which accounted for 72.5 per cent of total sales, grew modestly by 9.2 per cent in December 2022 as compared to the double-digit growth of 13.6 per cent recorded in November 2022, in line with the slower performance of exports during the month.

In addition, sales value in domestic-oriented industries improved slightly to 7.2 per cent from a growth of  7.1 per cent in the previous month. 

In comparison with November 2022, he said sales value for export-oriented industries continued to decline by 2.3 per cent while domestic-oriented industries returned to a negative growth of 0.3 per cent, he said.

Meanwhile, the chief statistician highlighted that there were 2.34 million persons engaged in the manufacturing sector in December 2022, up 3.4 per cent from 2.26 million persons a year ago.

The addition was largely contributed by the electrical and electronics products (5.2 per cent); food, beverages and tobacco products (4.9 per cent); and petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products (2.6 per cent) subsectors.

“In line with the increase in employment, the salaries and wages paid in the manufacturing sector grew by 5.4 per cent, amounting to RM8.56 billion.

“In addition, the sales value per employee went up by 5.1 per cent from the same month in 2021 to RM66,937, while the average salaries and wages per employee amounted to RM3,666,” he said.

In the fourth quarter (4Q) of 2022, he said the sales value of the manufacturing sector continued to record double-digit growth of 11.1 per cent against 4Q 2021 to RM474.4 billion.

The growth was propelled by petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastics products (16.2 per cent); electrical and electronics products (14.8 per cent); and food, beverages and tobacco products (6.5 per cent) subsectors, he said.

The number of employees and salaries and wages in 4Q 2022 improved by 3.4 per cent and 5.0 per cent respectively, he noted.

“Summarising the overall performance in 2022, the sales value of the manufacturing sector was RM1,800.7 billion, an increase of 15.8 per cent from 2021.

“During the year, the number of employees added by 3.4 per cent to record a total of 2.34 million persons, with salaries and wages increasing by 5.2 per cent to RM94.5 billion. Moreover, the sales value per employee registered a growth of 12.1 per cent, amounting to RM771,048,” Mohd Uzir added.

-- BERNAMA