KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's industrial output expanded 4.6% in March from a year ago, boosted by the manufacturing sector, but the growth was slower than Bloomberg's survey of a 4.8% increase.
The Statistics Department said on Thursday the industrial production index's (IPI) growth was supported by positive growth in manufacturing index (5.9%) and mining index (2.0%).
However, the electricity index declined by 0.2%.
“The manufacturing sector output accelerated to 5.9% in March 2017 after recording a 6.6% increase in February 2017,” it said.
The department said the major sub-sectors which recorded an expansion in March 2017 were the electrical and electronics products (8.5%); petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products (3.6%); and wood products, furniture, paper products, printing (10.3%).
The mining sector output posted a higher growth of 2.0% in March 2017 after an increase of 0.4% recorded in February 2017.
The growth in March 2017 was driven by a sustained increase of 7.9% in natural gas index. However, the crude oil index contracted at slower pace of 2.6%.
The electricity sector output decrease marginally by 0.2% in March 2017 after registering a growth of 1.5% in February 2017.
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