Kuala lumpur: The manufacturing sector posted sales value of RM173.1 billion in March 2026, an increase of 5.3 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y), said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin explained that the growth in sales value within the manufacturing sector was primarily driven by the electrical and electronics (EandE) products sub-sector, which saw a 13.3 per cent rise in March 2026. This growth was further supported by the food, beverages, and tobacco sub-sector, as well as the non-metallic mineral products, basic metal, and fabricated metal products sub-sector, which increased by 7.8 per cent and 3.7 per cent respectively.
On a month-on-month basis, the sales value rose by 8.7 per cent, from RM159.2 billion recorded in February 2026. Meanwhile, Mohd Uzir said sales value growth in export-oriented industries, which account for 71.7 per cent of total sales, expanded by 6.5 per cent in March 2026. This was led by a 15.2 per cent increase in the manufacture of computers, electronics, and optical products. Additionally, the manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats registered a 10.2 per cent increment, while the manufacture of machinery and equipment grew by 2.7 per cent. As compared to the preceding month, the export-oriented industries surged by 10.7 per cent.
Mohd Uzir noted that domestic-oriented industries saw a 2.5 per cent increase in March 2026, after registering 2.7 per cent in the previous month. This growth was mainly supported by a 5.0 per cent increase in the manufacture of food processing products industry, as well as a 3.2 per cent rise in the manufacture of basic metals and other non-metallic mineral products.
Regarding employment, a total of 2.4 million employees were recorded in the manufacturing sector during March 2026, representing a 1.1 per cent increase. This was mainly driven by the food, beverages, and tobacco sector (2.1 per cent), followed by EandE products and non-metallic mineral products, basic metal, and fabricated metal products, all of which recorded a 1.4 per cent increase. However, the number of employees in this sector decreased by 0.1 per cent on a month-on-month comparison.
Mohd Uzir added that salaries and wages in the manufacturing sector also expanded by 2.2 per cent, amounting to RM8.56 billion in March 2026. Compared to the prior month, salaries and wages paid declined by 0.2 per cent. Subsequently, the sales value per employee registered at RM71,705 (4.2 per cent), while the average salaries and wages per employee was RM3,547, marking a 1.1 per cent y-o-y increase.
For the first quarter of 2026, the manufacturing sector recorded a sales value of RM501.5 billion, achieving a growth of 5.5 per cent, compared to 5.8 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025. The number of employees increased by 1.1 per cent to 2.4 million, while salaries and wages rose by 2.3 per cent to RM25.9 billion. The sales value per employee stood at RM207,779, an increase of 4.4 per cent.