Malaysia's Manufacturing-Sales Up 19.5 Per Cent In May To US$14.4 Billion

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s manufacturing sales grew strongly by 19.5 per cent in May 2017 to US$14.4 billion (RM61.9 billion) as compared to US$12 billion (RM51.8 billion) in the same month of 2016, due to increases recorded in its three major sub-sectors. (US$1 = RM4.29) According to the Statistics Department, rises were recorded by electrical and electronics products (24.0 per cent), petroleum, chemicals, rubber and plastic products (20.5 per cent) and non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal (13.3 per cent). The three sub-sectors contributed 79.8 per cent to the sales value of the manufacturing sector, the department said in a statement Wednesday. Meanwhile, total employees engaged in the sector in May was 1,051,923 persons, an increase of 2.7 per cent or 27,164 persons as compared to 1,024,759 persons a year ago. Salaries & wages increased by 13.3 per cent to RM3.464 billion. Following this, the sales value per employee increased by 16.4 per cent to RM58,863 from the same month of May 2016. -- BERNAMA