KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's advance gross domestic product (GDP) estimates grew 5.3 per cent in the third quarter of 2024 (3Q24), compared to 5.9 per cent in the previous quarter.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), this modest performance was supported by all sectors, with the services and manufacturing sectors leading the way.
However, the mining and quarrying sector saw a decline during this quarter.
Overall, Malaysia's economy grew by 5.1 per cent in the first three quarters of 2024, compared to a 3.8 per cent increase during the same period in 2023.
"In terms of quarter-on-quarter performance, Malaysia's economy increased substantially by 4.6 per cent as compared to 0.8 per cent growth in the second quarter of 2024," it said.
The services sector moderated to 5.1 per cent from 5.9 per cent in the second quarter of 2024 (2Q24).
DOSM said the performance was driven by positive growth in all sub-sectors, particularly in wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, and business services.
The manufacturing sector grew by 5.7 per cent, supported by the production of electrical, electronic, and optical products, as well as petroleum, chemical, rubber, and plastic products, along with non-metallic mineral products, basic metals, and fabricated metal products.
The mining and quarrying sector contracted by 3.4 per cent in this quarter from 2.7 per cent in 2Q24, primarily due to reduced production in the natural gas and crude oil and condensate sub-sectors.
In contrast, the construction sector showed strong growth of 19.5 per cent this quarter, up from 17.3 per cent in the previous quarter, driven by double-digit growth across all sub-sectors, especially in specialised construction activities and non-residential buildings.