Malaysia’s industrial output sped up at the end of 2025, led by factory activities and electricity generation that offset a decline in the mining sector, data on Monday showed.
The industrial production index — which measures output from factories, power plants and mines — rose 4.8% in December when compared to the same month last year, the Department of Statistics Malaysia said in a statement.
A Bloomberg poll of economists had predicted a median 4.5% increase, and the latest print was also faster than November’s 4.3% year-on-year growth. On a month-on-month basis, the index rebounded 0.2%, following a 1.1% contraction in November.
The data dovetails with a pick-up in industrial production of China, Vietnam, Japan and Taiwan during the same month.
On a year-on-year basis, manufacturing activities expanded 6.7% in December compared to a 4.9% growth in November. Export-oriented industries, which accounted for two-thirds of output from the manufacturing sector, accelerated, driven by computer, electronics and optical products.
Domestic-oriented industries also gained traction, primarily led by fabricated metal products and basic metals.
Electricity generation rose 3.7% in December from a year earlier versus 2.7% in the preceding month, while the mining sector contracted 2.5% mainly due to a decline in natural gas production, even as crude oil and condensate output rose.
Source: theedgemalaysia