Overview

Sales in the Manufacturing sector rose 7.1 per cent, to record RM169.4 billion in January 2026

The Manufacturing sector posted sales value of RM169.4 billion in January 2026, rose 7.1 per cent (December 2025: 6.4%). The growth in sales value within the Manufacturing sector was mainly contributed by the Electrical & electronics products sub-sector, grew 15.6 per cent in January 2026 (December 2025: 12.6%). The growth was further supported by the Food, beverages & tobacco and the Non-metallic mineral products, basic metal & fabricated metal products sub-sectors, which rose by 12.4 per cent (December 2025: 10.4%) and 5.7 per cent (December 2025: 5.3%), respectively. In comparison by month-on-month, sales value increased 0.5 per cent, from RM168.6 billion recorded in December 2025.

Sales value growth in the export-oriented industries which accounting for 70.2 per cent of total sales, improved by 7.2 per cent in January 2026 (December 2025: 6.8%). The performance was primarily influenced by the increase in the Manufacture of computer, electronics & optical products by 17.9 per cent (December 2025: 13.3%). Additionally, the Manufacture of vegetable & animal oils & fats increased by 13.0 per cent (December 2025: 11.1%), while Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. grew 7.7 per cent (December 2025: 9.2%). As compared to the sales value in the preceding month, the export-oriented industries rose 0.2 per cent.

The domestic-oriented industries expanded 6.9 per cent in January 2026, after registered 5.6 per cent a month ago. The performance was mainly supported by the growth in Manufacture of food processing products with 11.6 per cent growth in January 2026 (December 2025: 9.6%), as well as in the Manufacture of basic metals (5.9%) and Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery & equipment (5.9%). Furthermore, the domestic-oriented industries increased 1.0 per cent on a month-on-month basis.

A total of 2.4 million employees were recorded in this sector during January 2026, augmented by 1.3 per cent (December 2025: 1.1%). The augmentation was mainly driven by the Food, beverages & tobacco (2.0%); Electrical & electronics products (1.8%); and Non-metallic mineral products, basic metal & fabricated metal products (1.3%). Meanwhile, the number of employees in this sector recorded a 0.1 per cent month-on-month increase.

The salaries & wages paid in the Manufacturing sector also posted an expansion of 2.8 per cent (December 2025: 2.5%), amounted to RM8.71 billion in January 2026. In the meantime, the salaries & wages paid declined 4.4 per cent, compared to RM9.11 billion recorded in the prior month. Subsequently, the sales value per employee registered at RM69,779 (5.7%), while the average salaries & wages per employee was RM3,590, increased by 1.4 per cent year-on-year.

The full publication of the Monthly Manufacturing Statistics, January 2026 can be downloaded through eStatistik portal.

Data for January 2026 is provisional. The data will be updated based on the latest available figures and subsequently published in the February 2026 publication.

Released by:

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS MALAYSIA

10 March 2026

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