LOCAL PRODUCTION

Year-on-year comparison revealed that the PPI for local production fell 8.9 per cent in March 2015. The highest drop was recorded by Mining index (-37.8%), followed by Agriculture, forestry & fishing (-11.2%), Manufacturing (-4.1%) and Electricity & gas (-3.8%). Meanwhile, the index for Water supply increased (+0.1%) [Table 2].

The PPI for local production also decreased by 0.8 per cent in March 2015 compared to previous month. This  was mainly  due  to the decreases  in  Mining (-4.7%) and Manufacturing (-0.5%). However, index for other categories showed increases which constituted of Water supply (+3.9%) and Electricity & gas (+0.7%). Meanwhile, index for Agriculture, forestry & fishing remained unchanged.

PPI for Local Production by Stage of Processing

The PPI for local production by stage of processing (SOP) declined by 0.8 per cent in March 2015 compared to previous month. The decline was due to the decrease in the price of Intermediate materials, supplies and components (-1.7%). However, index for Crude materials for further processing and Finished goods showed increases of 1.0 and 0.1 per cent respectively.  

As compared with the same month a year ago, the PPI for local production by SOP for March 2015 dropped by 8.9 per cent. This was due to decreases in Index for Crude materials for further processing (-25.9%), followed by index for Intermediate materials, supplies and components (-6.0%). However, index for Finished goods increased by 0.9 per cent.

IMPORTS

The import price index went up by 0.1 per cent in March 2015 compared to February 2015. The increase in the index was attributed to the higher prices of goods transacted by importers for seven (7) commodity sections as classified under SITC 4+ i.e Animal and vegetable oils and fats (+1.3%), Food (+0.3%), Miscellaneous manufactured articles (+0.3%), Chemicals (+0.2%), Miscellaneous  transactions  and  commodities  (+0.2%), Machinery and transport equipment (+0.1%) and Manufactured goods (+0.1%). However, decreases were recorded for Crude materials, inedible (-0.3%) and Mineral fuels, lubricants etc. (-0.1%). Meanwhile, index for Beverages & tobacco remained unchanged. [Table 3]

On a yearly basis, the import price index for March 2015 decreased by 0.4 per cent compared to the same month of preceding year. The decline in prices were observed in four (4) commodity sections which comprises of Mineral fuels, lubricants etc (-10.6%), Animal and vegetable oils and fats (-3.7%), Chemicals (-0.2%) and Crude materials, inedible (-0.2%). However, increases were recorded for Miscellaneous transactions and commodities (+2.0%), Machinery and transport equipment (+1.5%), Miscellaneous manufactured articles (+1.3%), Manufactured goods (+0.5%) and Food (+0.3%). Meanwhile, index for Beverages and tobacco remained unchanged.

+Standard International Trade Classification Rev.4

Import Price Index by Stage of Processing

On a monthly basis, the import price index by stage of processing (SOP) for March 2015 increased by 0.1 per cent compared to the previous month. This was due to increases by the index for Crude  materials  for  further  processing (+0.5%) and Intermediate materials supplies and components (+0.2%). Meanwhile, index for Finished  goods remained unchanged.

The import price index by SOP for March 2015 declined by 0.4 per cent  compared to March 2014. The drop in the prices was mainly due to the decrease in the index for Crude materials for  further  processing by 7.7 per cent. However, indices for Intermediate materials, supplies and components and Finished goods increased by 0.7 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively.

Released By:

THE OFFICE OF CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
30 April 2015