Malaysia’s manufacturing sales rose 6.4% in December last year, with employment reaching 2.4 million

(Kuala Lumpur, 9th) Data released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) showed that Malaysia’s manufacturing sales reached RM168.6 billion in December 2024, representing a 6.4% year-on-year increase. This lifted full-year manufacturing sales to RM1.97 trillion, up 4.2% from a year earlier.

Chief Statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the December growth was mainly driven by the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector, which recorded a 12.6% year-on-year expansion.

Other key contributors included the food, beverages and tobacco sector, which grew 10.4%, and non-metallic mineral products, basic metals and fabricated metal products, which rose 5.3%. On a month-on-month basis, however, manufacturing sales declined by 0.5%.

Export-Oriented Industries Up 6.8%

By industrial orientation, export-oriented industries, accounting for 70.4% of total manufacturing output, recorded a 6.8% year-on-year increase in December. This was largely supported by a 13.3% rise in the manufacture of computers, electronics and optical products.

Meanwhile, domestic-oriented industries expanded 5.6% year-on-year, driven mainly by a 9.6% increase in food processing activities.

On a month-on-month comparison, export-oriented industries contracted by 1%, while domestic-oriented industries grew by 0.7%.

Employment and Wages Continue to Rise

Manufacturing employment stood at 2.4 million persons in December, marking a 1.1% year-on-year increase and a 0.1% rise month-on-month, Mohd Uzir said. The growth was led by food, beverages and tobacco (+1.9%), electrical and electronics (+1.7%), and non-metallic mineral products, basic metals and fabricated metal products (+1.2%).

Total wages paid in the manufacturing sector increased 2.5% year-on-year to RM9.1 billion in December, while surging 7.7% month-on-month. Sales value per employee rose 5.3% to RM69,502, while the average monthly wage per employee increased 1.3% year-on-year to RM3,756.

On a quarterly basis, fourth-quarter manufacturing sales rose 5.8% year-on-year to RM509.5 billion.

Overall, Malaysia’s manufacturing sales totalled RM1.97 trillion in 2024, up 4.2%, while employment increased to 2.4 million (+1.1%) and total wages paid reached RM101.2 billion, representing a 2% annual increase.