Malaysia’s industrial output rises 6.3 per cent in September
Manufacturing sales reached RM191.1 billion, up 12.9 per cent from a year earlier, according to the Statistics Department.
Malaysia recorded a 6.3 per cent year-on-year increase in its Industrial Production Index (IPI) in September 2026, with gains in manufacturing and electricity outweighing a decline in mining, according to the Statistics Department (DOSM).
Manufacturing output grew 9.4 per cent, compared with 7.4 per cent in August, while electricity generation increased 10.7 per cent. Mining output fell 9.4 per cent as crude petroleum and condensate production dropped 11.8 per cent and natural gas output declined 7.9 per cent.
Against the preceding month, the IPI increased 1.3 per cent. Manufacturing output rose 2.9 per cent on that basis.
Production in export-oriented industries expanded 10.7 per cent year-on-year, led by a 19.3 per cent increase in computer, electronic and optical products. Domestic-oriented industries grew 6.6 per cent, with motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers rising 10.6 per cent and basic metals increasing 10.2 per cent.
Manufacturers used 84.9 per cent of their production capacity, compared with 84.1 per cent in August. The sector’s sales increased 12.9 per cent year-on-year to RM191.1 billion, while employment rose 1.4 per cent to 2.45 million. Salaries and wages totalled RM8.7 billion, a 4.0 per cent increase.
For the third quarter of 2026, industrial output grew 5.3 per cent year-on-year, compared with 7.7 per cent in the second quarter. Manufacturing sales rose 10.7 per cent to RM553.5 billion.
Across January–September 2026, the IPI increased 5.7 per cent, against 2.9 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025. Manufacturing sales reached RM1.58 trillion, up 8.5 per cent, while salaries and wages increased 2.9 per cent to RM77.4 billion.
