KUALA LUMPUR: The manufacturing sector recorded sales value of RM154.9 billion in May 2024, up 5.5 per cent from the previous month supported by growth in the electrical and electronics products (E&E) sub sector at 12.2 per cent.
The Department of Statistics (DOSM) said in its monthly manufacturing statistics, increases were also seen in the non-metallic mineral products, basic metal & fabricated metal products (8.9 per cent); and food, beverages & tobacco (7.7 per cent) sub-sectors.
More than two-thirds of the sales value was contributed by export-oriented industries, which improved further by 4.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY).
The growth was augmented by the manufacture of computer, electronics & opticalproducts (14.3 per cent); coupled with a 9.0 per cent expansion in the manufacture ofvegetable & animal oils & fats.
On a month-on-month basis, the sales value of export-oriented industries returned to positive territory by recording a 2.5 per cent growth.
Domestic-oriented industries expanded by 7.9 per cent in May 2024 mainly attributable to the expansion in the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers & semi-trailers (12.9 per cent); the manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery & equipment (9.7 per cent); and food processing products (6.3 per cent) industries.
"There were 2.38 million employees engaged in the manufacturing sector in May 2024, which rose by 0.9 per cent as compared to 2.36 million persons recorded a year ago.
The increase was mainly in the food, beverages & tobacco; non-metallic mineral products, basic metal& fabricated metal products; and wood, furniture, paper products & printing sub-sectors," said chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin.
Similarly, the salaries and wages paid in the sector grew by 1.1 per cent year-on-year to record RM8.19 billion in May.