Malaysia's June manufacturing records double-digit growth

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's manufacturing sales for June 2011 posted a double-digit growth of 12.9% to RM50.8bil from RM45bil in the same month last year.

Month-on-month, the sales value also increased by 6.8% compared with the RM47.6bil recorded in May, the Statistics Department said in the monthly manufacturing statistics released today.

The year-on-year increase in the sales value in June 2011 was generated by the growth in 82 industries out of the 116 covered in the survey.

The five major industries were the manufacture of refined petroleum products (26.8%), manufacture of semi-conductor devices (41.8%), manufacture of other basic industrial chemicals except fertilisers and nitrogen compounds (25.3%), manufacture of basic iron and steel products (18%) and rubber remilling and latex processing (35%).

The month-on-month increase in the sales value was the positive growth generated by 70 industries out of 116.

The five top industries were the manufacture of semi-conductor devices (35.6%), manufacture of refined petroleum products (9.5%), manufacture of computer and computer peripherals (29.2%), manufacture of television and radio transmitters and apparatus for line telephony and line telegraphy (40.6%) and manufacture of electronic valves and tubes and printed circuit boards (7.2%).

For the first six months of this year, the sales value of the manufacturing sector posted a double-digit growth of 11.3% or RM29.7bil to RM291.9bil.

A total of 1,021,965 persons were employed in the manufacturing sector in June this year, a increase of 1,197 persons or 0.1% compared with the preceding month.

Year-on-year, the number of workers employed also increased by 41,901 persons or 4.3%, as compared to the 980,064 in June last year.

Average salaries and wages paid per employee in June 2011 increased 7.4% month-on-month to RM2,403. Productivity or average sales value per employee in June 2011 increased 6.6% month-on-month to RM49,745. - BERNAMA