Malaysia: Malaysia’s manufacturing sector recorded a 4.8 per cent year-on-year increase in sales value to RM160.6 billion in April 2025, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin stated that the growth was predominantly driven by the food, beverages, and tobacco sub-sector, which continued its double-digit expansion with an 11.1 per cent rise. This was accompanied by a steady growth in the electrical and electronics products, and the non-metallic mineral products, basic metal, and fabricated metal products sub-sectors, which expanded by 9.8 per cent and 4.6 per cent, respectively.

However, on a monthly basis, the sales value decreased by 2.3 per cent from RM164.3 billion in March. Mohd Uzir highlighted that export-oriented industries, accounting for 70.3 per cent of total sales, experienced growth mainly from the manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats.

In addition, the manufacture of computers, electronics and optical products witnessed a 10.6 per cent rise, while machinery and equipment increased by 7.9 per cent. Domestic-oriented industries expanded by 3.6 per cent in April, supported by a 10.0 per cent rise in food processing products, 5.9 per cent in basic metals, and 3.7 per cent in fabricated metal products, excluding machinery and equipment.

Regarding employment, Mohd Uzir noted that the sector employed 2.40 million workers in April, marking a 1.2 per cent year-on-year increase. The growth was largely supported by the food, beverages and tobacco; non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products; and electrical and electronics products sub-sectors, each contributing a 1.9 per cent increase.

Salaries and wages paid in April amounted to RM8.3 billion, representing a 2.4 per cent increase from the previous year, although they declined by 0.9 per cent from RM8.4 billion in March. Consequently, the sales value per employee rose by 3.6 per cent to RM66,907, while average salaries and wages per employee climbed by 1.2 per cent to RM3,460.