IPI Up 3.1 Pct In March 2026, Led By Manufacturing Growth, Electricity Output - DOSM
KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (Bernama) -- The Industrial Production Index (IPI) rose by 3.1 per cent year-on-year in March 2026, led by 5.5 per cent growth in manufacturing output and 4.9 per cent growth in electricity output, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
It said that the mining sector continued to decline, recording a 6.5 per cent contraction compared to a 2.0 per cent contraction in February 2026, while on a month-on-month basis, the IPI rebounded by 9.3 per cent after a 9.2 per cent decline in the previous month.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the output of export-oriented industries, which accounted for two-thirds of the manufacturing sector, expanded by 6.7 per cent in March 2026, compared with 5.0 per cent in the previous month.
He added that the expansion was supported mainly by the manufacture of computers, electronics, and optical products, which increased by 14.8 per cent, followed by vegetable and animal oils and fats, which increased by 13.5 per cent.
“This year-on-year growth is reflected in the country’s export performance, which increased by 8.3 per cent in March 2026. Compared to February 2026, the export-oriented industries ascended by 11.9 per cent after recording a negative 8.1 per cent growth in the previous month,” he said in a statement today.
Mohd Uzir noted that the deterioration of 6.5 per cent in the mining sector in March 2026 was due to a decline in both components, where crude oil and condensate production fell by 11.3 per cent compared to a fall of 4.3 per cent in February 2026, while natural gas output recorded a further decrease of 3.4 per cent from a fall of 0.4 per cent in the previous month.
Meanwhile, electricity generation edged up by 4.9 per cent year-on-year in March 2026, from 4.6 per cent in February 2026.
On a month-on-month basis, the electricity index soared by 12.1 per cent versus a decline of 8.0 per cent in February 2026.
Mohd Uzir said domestic-oriented industries ticked up by 2.8 per cent in March 2026, compared to 2.7 per cent in the previous month, driven by the manufacture of food processing products (7.2 per cent) and the manufacturing of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (4.0 per cent).
“Compared to the previous month, domestic-oriented industries turned around by 1.4 per cent,” he added.
-- BERNAMA