KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s industrial output expanded at a faster pace of 2.7% in December, exceeding a forecast of just 1% growth, according to the Statistics Department.
It said on Thursday the higher Industrial Production Index (IPI) in December 2015 was supported by positive growth in manufacturing index (4.0%) and electricity index (5.6%). However, the mining index recorded a decrease of 1.5%.
The department said the 4% increase in manufacturing sector output showed continued growth from the 4.1% in November 2015. The major sub-sectors which expanded were electrical and electronics Products (8.6%); petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products (1.6%) and non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products (5.0%).
On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month, manufacturing output recorded an increase of 3.6% in December 2015.
The IPI for November 2015 remained unchanged at 1.8% year-on-year.
The department said in seasonally adjusted terms, the IPI in December 2015 rose 2.8% on-month, led by gains in manufacturing. The manufacturing index increased 3.6%, mining (2.5%) and electricity (3.5%).
For the fourth quarter of 2015, the IPI expanded by 2.9% from a year ago, underpinned by the increase in the index of manufacturing (4.8%) and electricity (4.0%). However, the mining index fell 2.4%.
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