Manufacturing (Statistics)

Overview

Manufacturing sector sales recorded an increase of 12.9 per cent with a value of RM191.1 billion in September 2026

The sales value of the Manufacturing sector in September 2026 increased by 12.9 per cent year-on-year to RM191.10 billion, compared to 9.9 per cent recorded in August 2026. This growth was driven by the Electrical & electronics equipment subsector which recorded an increase of 23.9 per cent (August 2026: 22.6%). This momentum was reinforced by the Petroleum, chemical, rubber & plastic products subsector which increased by 6.1 per cent (August 2026: 5.2 %); as well as significant growth in the Food, beverages & tobacco products subsector at 5.4 per cent from 0.3 per cent in the previous month. For month-on-month comparison, sales value increased by 3.3 per cent (August 2026: RM185.0 billion).

The growth in sales value for export-oriented industries, which represented 73.4 per cent of total sales, increased by 14.7 per cent year-on-year in September 2026 (August 2026: 12.1%). This performance was due to the increase in the Manufacture of computer, electronic & optical products at 26.6 per cent (August 2026: 24.9 %). In addition, the Manufacture of vegetable &animal oils and fats also recorded a rise of 3.3 per cent (August 2026: -4.4%); while the Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products grew slower by 1.3 per cent (August 2026: 2.3%). Compared to the previous month, the sales value of export-oriented industries increased by 3.1 per cent.

Domestic-oriented industries grew at 8.3 per cent year-on-year in September 2026, after growth of 4.4 per cent in the previous month. This performance was driven by the Manufacture of food products industry, which showed growth of 8.5 per cent (August 2026: 6.9%). Furthermore, the Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers & semi-trailers industry grew double-digit to 11.3 per cent after recording a decreased of 3.0 per cent in August 2026. On a month-on-month growth basis, domestic-oriented industries expanded at 4.0 per cent.

The number of employees in the Manufacturing sector totaled 2.4 million persons in September 2026, an increase of 1.4 per cent year-on-year (August 2026: 1.2%). This increase was driven by the growth in the Food, beverages & tobacco subsector which grew by 2.5 per cent; followed by a growth of 2.1 per cent for the Non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products subsector (August 2026: 1.9%) and Electrical and electronic equipment products at 1.9 per cent (August 2026: 1.8%). Meanwhile, the number of employees in this sector increased marginally by 0.8 per cent on a month-on-month comparison.

Salaries and wages paid in the Manufacturing sector continued to record growth of 4.0 per cent (August 2025: 3.5%), amounting to RM8.73 billion in September 2026. Compared to the preceding month, salaries and wages paid increased by 2.1 per cent (August 2026: 0.1%). Furthermore, sales value per employee stood at RM78,082, registering a growth of 11.3 per cent year-on-year. Meanwhile, the average salaries and wages per employee amounted to RM3,568, reflecting an increase of 2.6 per cent compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

The cumulative sales value for the first nine months of 2026 recorded RM1.58 trillion, growing 8.5 per cent (January - September 2025: 3.6%). The number of employees increased by 1.4 per cent to 2.4 million persons; followed by a 2.9 per cent growth in salaries & wages paid, amounting to RM77.4 billion. In addition, the sales value per employee amounted to RM645,360, an increase of 7.0 per cent.

The Monthly Manufacturing Statistics publication, September 2026 can be downloaded through the eStatistik portal. Data for the month of September 2026 are provisional data. These data will be updated based on the latest available data and will be published in the October 2026 publication.

Released by:

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS MALAYSIA

10 November 2026

Infographic

Data

1. MONTHLY MANUFACTURING STATISTICS, SEPTEMBER 2026

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