The sales value of the Manufacturing sector in March 2016 decreased by 0.6% (RM0.4 billion) to record RM58.0 billion as compared to RM58.4 billion reported a year ago (Chart 1). Meanwhile, month-on-month basis, the sales value increased by 13.0% (RM6.6 billion) compared with the preceding month. The sales value in February 2016 remained unchanged.

On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month, the sales value in March 2016 increased by 1.1%.

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

11,389.8

8,251.9

3,137.9

27.5

Manufacture of passenger cars and commercial vehicles

2,146.9

1,894.3

252.6

11.8

Manufacture of liquefied or compressed inorganic industrial or medical gases

445.5

237.0

208.5

46.8

Manufacture of builders' plastics ware

766.7

627.5

139.2

18.2

Manufacture of rubber gloves

1,044.5

906.9

137.6

13.2

Total employees engaged in the Manufacturing sector in March 2016 was 1,024,175 persons, a decrease of 0.5% or 5,177 persons as compared to 1,029,352 persons in March 2015 (Chart 2). Meanwhile, month-on-month basis, the number of employees decreased by 0.4% as compared to 1,028,301 persons in the preceding month.

Year-on-year basis, salaries & wages paid in March 2016 increased by 4.0% (RM122.5 million) as compared with the corresponding month of the previous year. Meanwhile, month-on-month basis, the total amount paid in March 2016, decreased by 0.2% (RM5.9 million) to register RM3,204.1million.

The average salaries & wages paid per employee increased by 4.5% in March 2016 as compared to the same month in 2015. Meanwhile, average salaries & wages paid per employee registered RM3,128 in March 2016, an increase of 0.2% compared to previous month.

Productivity or average sales value per employee in March 2016 decreased by 0.1% as compared with the same month of the previous year. Meanwhile, productivity in March 2016 increased by 13.4% month-on-month to register RM56,665 (Chart 3).

During January – March 2016,  the sales value of the Manufacturing sector decreased 1.8% to register RM106.6 billion. The number of employees engaged during the period, decreased by 0.5% to register 1,024,175 persons.

Cumulatively, productivity decreased by 1.3% to record RM160,795 as shown in Table B.

Sales Value (RM million)

167,669.2

164,682.7

-1.8

Number of Employees

1,029,352

1,024,175

-0.5

Salaries & Wages (RM million)

9,041.5

9,665.1

6.9

Productivity (RM)

162,888

160,795

-1.3