The Star reported that Malaysian Industrial Production Index increased 2.5% YoY in September from a year earlier, underpinned by growth in the manufacturing and electricity sectors.

The department of statistics said that "The increase in September was reflected by the growth in manufacturing and electricity index by 8.2% and 6.4% respectively. However, the index of mining recorded a drop of 12%."

It added that the IPI decreased by 1.9% MoM. The cumulative index for the period of January to September 2011 increased 0.9% YoY. Meanwhile, the IPI in August 2011 was revised to positive 3.7% YoY.

According to the department, the manufacturing output in September 2011 increased by 8.2% YoY. It said that "Output for August increased by 5.9% (revised) as against August 2010. Compared with the preceding month, the output for September marginally decreased by 0.7%. The growth for the first nine months of 2011 increased 4.4% compared with the same period a year earlier."

The increase in the manufacturing output in September was attributed by the increases in the groups, namely petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastics products (8.1%); non metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products (17.9%) and food, beverages and tobacco products (11.4%).

Meanwhile, the output for the mining sector decreased 12% in September compared with the same period a year earlier. This was due to the decreases in crude oil index (15.3%) and natural gas index (4.5%). On a MoM basis, the mining output reduced by 5.2%.

In January to September 2011 period, the mining sector recorded a decrease of 8% compared with the same period of 2010.


Electricity output increased 6.4% in September compared with the same period a year earlier. Compared with August 2011, the electricity output posted a decline of 2.2%. An increase of 1.9% was registered in the period of January to September 2011 versus the same period a year earlier.

(Sourced from www.thestar.com.my)