April industrial output exceeds forecast

The worsening of China

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's industrial product index (IPI) in April 2019 expanded at a faster pace of 4% from a year ago, exceeding the Bloomberg forecast of a 2.5% growth, according to the Statistics Department.

The chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the growth in April was driven by the increase in electricity (5.8%), manufacturing (4.3%) and mining (2.3%)” 

Manufacturing sector output rose by 4.3% after recording a growth of 4.1% in March 2019. 

The major sub-sectors contributing to the increase were transport equipment and other manufactures products (7.2%), electrical and electronics products (4.1%) and petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products (3.6%). 

The electricity sector output increased by 5.8% on-year.

The mining sector recorded a 2.3% increase on-year, which was the highest growth since September 2017. 

The growth was contributed by the natural gas index (6.1%), while the crude oil index decreased by 1.9%. 

According to the department the IPI for January to April expanded by 3% from the previous corresponding period.

Underpinning the growth was the electricity sector (5.8%) and manufacturing sector (4.1%) but the mining sector declined by 0.9%.