Malaysia: Down Another 9% for Manufacturing

The November manufaturing numbers for Malaysia are worrisome. Manufacturing sales declined 8.1 pct to RM41.9 billion in November last year compared with November 2008. The figure was also a drop by 6.2 pct from the preceding month of October, the Statistics Department said in a statement today.

On a cumulative basis, the sales value of the manufacturing sector from January to November 2009 was down by 21.2 per cent to RM426.9 billion compared with the previous corresponding period.

The decline in sales from the RM45.6 billion registered in November 2008 was due to the drop in the sales value of 58 industries out of 116 industries covered under a survey, the department said.

The five major industries with significant decreases were refined petroleum products (38.6 per cent), computer and computer peripherals (14.9 per cent), basic iron and steel products (14.2 per cent), motor vehicle (14.9 per cent) and that of other basic precious and non-ferrous metals (34.5 per cent).

On a month-on-month basis, the drop in November from preceding October was the result of lower sales value in 78 industries out of 116 industries covered in the survey.

Decreases were registered in the five major industries including the manufacture of refined petroleum products (9.4 per cent), computer and computer peripherals (18.1 per cent), basic iron and steel products (16.2 per cent), electronic valves and tubes and printed circuit board (11.3 per cent), and television and radio receivers, sound and video recording or reproducing apparatus, and associated goods (8.1 per cent).

In November 2009, total employees engaged in the manufacturing sector was 942,013, an increase of 0.3 per cent from the preceding month but was 3.6 per cent lower than the 977,068 persons employed in November 2008.

Total employees in October 2009 stood at 938,780 workers.

For the January to November period 2009, the number of employees engaged decreased 3.6 per cent to 942,013 persons compared with the previous corresponding period, it added.

In terms of salaries and wages, it said a total RM2.02 billion was paid during the month under review, up 0.3 per cent from the preceding month and was an increase of 2.1 per cent from a year ago.

In terms of productivity or average sales value per employee, it decreased 6.5 per cent month-on-month in November to register RM44,441. — Bernama