The sales value of the Manufacturing sector in February 2016 decreased by 1.4% (RM0.7 billion) to record RM51.4 billion as compared to RM52.1 billion reported a year ago (Chart 1). Meanwhile, month-on-month basis, the sales value decreased by 7.0% (RM3.9 billion) compared with the preceding month. The sales value in January 2016 remained unchanged.

On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month, the sales value in February 2016 increased by 0.5%.

Table A shows the five (5) industries that recorded decrease in sales value on yearly basis.

Table A : Sales value of manufacturing industries 

Industries

Manufacture of refined petroleum products

10,073.5

6,642.3

3,431.2

34.1

Manufacture of passenger cars and commercial vehicles

1,768.8

1,494.5

274.3

15.5

Manufacture of liquefied or compressed inorganic industrial or medical gases

424.9

217.8

207.1

48.7

Manufacture of communication equipment

750.0

579.1

170.9

22.8

Manufacture of rubber gloves

917.5

762.7

154.8

16.9

Total employees engaged in the Manufacturing sector in February 2016 was 1,028,301 persons, a decrease of 0.2% or 2,183 persons as compared to 1,030,484 persons in February 2015 (Chart 2). Meanwhile, month-on-month basis, the number of employees decreased by 0.2% as compared to 1,030,153 persons in the preceding month.

Year-on-year basis, salaries & wages paid in February 2016 increased by 7.9% (RM236.1 million) as compared with the corresponding month of the previous year. Meanwhile, month-on-month basis, the total amount paid in February 2016, decreased by 1.3% (RM41.0 million) to register
RM3,210.0 million.

The average salaries & wages paid per employee increased by 8.2% in February 2016 as compared to the same month in 2015. Meanwhile, average salaries & wages paid per employee registered RM3,122 in February 2016, a decrease of 1.1% compared to previous month.

Productivity or average sales value per employee in February 2016 decreased by 1.2% as compared with the same month of the previous year. Meanwhile, productivity in February 2016 decreased by 6.9% month-on-month to register RM49,964 (Chart 3).

During January – February 2016,  the sales value of the Manufacturing sector decreased 2.4% to register RM106.6 billion. The number of employees engaged during the period, decreased by 0.2% to register 1,028,301 persons.

Cumulatively, productivity decreased by 2.2% to record RM103,713 as shown in Table B.

Sales Value (RM million)

109,286.9

106,648.3

-2.4

Number of Employees

1,030,484

1,028,301

-0.2

Salaries & Wages (RM million)

5,959.9

8.4

Productivity (RM)

103,713

-2.2