Overview

Manufacturing sector sales recorded an increase of 9.9 per cent with a value of RM185.0 billion in August 2026

The sales value of the Manufacturing sector in August 2026 increased by 9.9 per cent year-on-year to RM185.0 billion, compared to 9.1 per cent recorded in July 2026. This growth was driven by the Electrical & electronics equipment subsector which recorded an increase of 22.6 per cent (July 2026: 17.8%). This momentum was reinforced by the Petroleum, chemical, rubber & plastic products subsector which increased by 5.2 per cent (July 2026: 3.6%); as well as slower growth in the Food, beverages & tobacco products subsector at 0.3 per cent from 3.9 per cent in the previous month.  For month-on-month comparison, sales value increased by 4.3 per cent (July 2026: RM177.3 billion).

The growth in sales value for export-oriented industries, which represented 73.6 per cent of total sales, increased by 12.1 per cent year-on-year in August 2026 (July 2026: 9.9%). This performance was due to the increase in the Manufacture of computer, electronic & optical products at 24.9 per cent (July 2026: 19.0%). In addition, the Manufacture of coke & refined petroleum products also recorded a rise of 8.3 per cent (July 2026: 3.3%); while the Manufacture of furniture grew by 8.4 per cent (July 2026: 7.9%). Compared to the previous month, the sales value of export-oriented industries increased by 2.4 per cent.

Domestic-oriented industries grew at 4.4 per cent year-on-year in August 2026, after growth of 7.2 per cent in the previous month. This performance was driven by the Manufacture of basic metals industry, which showed a double-digit growth of 13.1 per cent (July 2026: 14.9%). Furthermore, the Manufacture of food processing products industry grew moderately to 6.9 per cent after recording an increase of 9.6 per cent in July 2026. On a month-on-month growth basis, domestic-oriented industries contracted at 0.9 per cent.

The number of employees in the Manufacturing sector totaled 2.4 million persons in August 2026, an increase of 1.2 per cent year-on-year (July 2026: 1.1%). This increase was driven by the growth in the Food, beverages & tobacco subsector which grew by 2.1 per cent; followed by a growth of 1.9 per cent for the Non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products subsector (July 2026: 1.9%) and Electrical and electronic equipment products at 1.8 per cent (July 2026: 1.3%). Meanwhile, the number of employees in this sector increased marginally by 0.3 per cent on a month-on-month comparison. The total salaries & wages paid grew by 3.5 per cent to RM8.55 billion. In addition, the sales value per employee increased by 8.7 per cent to RM76,148, and the average monthly salary per employee rose by 2.3 per cent to RM3,519.

The cumulative sales value for the first eight months of 2026 recorded RM1.39 trillion, growing 7.9 per cent (January - August 2025: 3.5%). The number of employees increased by 1.2 per cent to 2.4 million persons; followed by a 2.8 per cent growth in salaries & wages paid, amounting to RM68.7 billion. In addition, the sales value per employee recorded RM573,597, an increase of 6.7 per cent.

The Monthly Manufacturing Statistics publication, August 2026 can be downloaded through the eStatistik portal.

Data for the month of August 2026 are provisional data. These data will be updated based on the latest available data and will be published in the September 2026 publication.

Released by:

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS MALAYSIA

9 October 2026

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