KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia saw its headline manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rise to a 20-month high at 50.2 in January 2026 from 50.1 in December 2025, signalling a third consecutive monthly improvement in the health of its manufacturing sector.
S&P Global said the improvement was supported by a renewed rise in production, as well as a stabilisation in new factory orders. It noted that the ringgit appreciation also contributed to the first reduction in input costs since May 2020, and that output prices increased only modestly in January 2026. The stronger PMI signalled strengthening business conditions in the country. — Bernama
