The manufacturing sector posted sales of RM168.3 billion in August 2025, expanding by 2.7%, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the growth was mainly contributed by the food, beverages and tobacco sub-sector, improved by 9.6% in August (July 2025: 8.9%)
The growth was further supported by the electrical and electronics (E&E) products and the non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products sub-sectors, which rose by 3.7% (July 2025: 6.9%) and 3.3% (July 2025: 3.8%), respectively.
“In the same period, sales value surged by 3.5%, reaching RM168.3 billion from RM162.5 billion recorded in the prior month,” he said in a statement following the release of DOSM’s Monthly Manufacturing Statistics, Malaysia, August 2025.
The chief statistician said sales value growth in the export-oriented industries, accounting for 72.2% of total sales, grew by 2% in August 2025 (July 2025: 2.7%).
The performance was primarily influenced by the increase in the manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats by 8.2% (July 2025: 6.3%).
Meanwhile, the manufacture of computer, electronics and optical products grew by 3.8% (July 2025: 6.9%), and the manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. grew by 4.9% (July 2025: 12.4%).
On a month-on-month comparison, the growth of export-oriented industries returned to positive at 4.2%(July 2025: -0.3%).
Likewise, the domestic-oriented industries increased 4.5% in August, after registering 5.6% a month ago.
The performance was supported by robust growth in the manufacture of food processing products at 11.6% in August (July 2025: 12.7%), as well as in the manufacture of basic metals (4.3%) and the manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (4.6%).
Furthermore, domestic-oriented industries increased 1.7% as compared to the preceding month.
“A total of 2.4 million employees were recorded in this sector during August, augmented by 1% (July 2025: 1.1%).
“The augmentation was mainly driven by the food, beverages and tobacco (2.3%); non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products (1.4%); and E&E products (0.9%),” said Mohd Uzir.
On a month-on-month basis, he said the number of employees in this sector increased 0.2%.
Correspondingly, the salaries and wages paid in the manufacturing sector also expanded by 1.8% (July 2025: 2.3%), amounting to RM8.26 billion in August.
In addition, the salaries and wages paid dropped by 0.6% against RM8.31 billion recorded in the preceding month.
Subsequently, the sales value per employee registered at RM70,063 (1.7%), while the average salaries and wages per employee were RM3,440, increased by 0.8% year-on-year.
For the period from January to August 2025, Mohd Uzir said the manufacturing sector recorded cumulative sales of RM1.3 trillion, growing 3.5% compared to the same period of 2024 (January-August 2024: 4.9%).
“The number of employees ticked up by 1% to 2.4 million persons, while salaries and wages increased by 1.9% to RM66.8 billion.
“Moreover, the sales value per employee stood at RM535,728, grew 2.5%,” he added.
Source: theedgemalaysia