Malaysia’s March’12 IPI up 0.3%

Friday, 18 May 2012 05:54

Malaysia's Industrial Production Index (IPI) in March 2012 added 0.3% compared with the corresponding month in 2011, according to the latest statistical release by the Department of Statistics (DOS).

The IPI for February 2011 was a revised positive 8.2% year-on-year. Compared with the preceding month on a seasonally-adjusted basis, the IPI in March 2012 contracted by 5.2%.

The increase in IPI in March 2012 year-on-year was due to a 2.0% increase in the manufacturing index and a 4.9% rise in the electricity index while the mining index declined by 4.1%.

The higher manufacturing output in March 2012 compared with the same month in 2011 was mainly due to higher production in three industries-Petroleum, Chemical, Rubber and Plastic Products (4.2%); Non-metallic Mineral Products, Basic Metal and Fabricated Metal Products (8.6%); and Transport Equipment and Other Manufactures (14.3%).

The seasonally adjusted manufacturing output for March 2012 was 5.8% lower compared with the month before.

The mining output in March 2012 dropped 4.1% compared with the same month in 2011 due to a 6.6% decline in the production of crude oil while production of natural gas increased by 0.9%.

On a seasonally-adjusted month-on-month basis, the mining output for March 2012 was 7.0% lower.

The electricity output in March 2012 rose 4.9% compared with the corresponding month in 2011. On a seasonally-adjusted basis, the electricity output in March 2012 was lower by 6.0% compared with February 2012.

Adapted from Department of Statistics (DOS) statistical , NST Business Times and StarBiz