KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Industrial Production Index (IPI) rose 3.2% year-on-year (y-o-y) in March, according to the Statistics Department.
In a statement, it said the growth was supported by the manufacturing and mining sectors.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the manufacturing and mining sectors recorded growth of 4% and 1.9% respectively.
The manufacturing sector production was primarily driven by a rise in computer, electronic and optical products.
“The manufacture of chemicals and chemical products contributed 4.9%, while export-oriented industries grew 10.1% from the previous month,” he said.
He noted that domestic-oriented industries also contributed positively.
“This positive growth was supported by the manufacture of food processing products (7.8%), fabricated metal products excluding machinery and equipment (4.2%), and other non-metallic mineral products (3.7%),” he said.
Commenting on the performance of the mining sector, Mohd Uzir said the 1.9% growth was driven by higher output of crude petroleum and condensate as well as natural gas which rose 2.2% and 1.8% respectively.
“In terms of monthly comparison, the mining index increased to 17.8% compared with negative 12.5% recorded in February,” he said.
Meanwhile, the electricity index remained negative at 2.7% in March, although it registered month-on-month growth of 11.2% compared with February.
Globally, several countries experienced a decline in industrial production in March including Taiwan (down 13.6%), Vietnam (down 9.3%), South Korea (down 5.3%), the United States (down 1.3%), and Japan (down 0.3%). — Bernama
