Malaysia's Sept IPI up 1pc

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Industrial Production Index (IPI) grew slightly by one per cent in September 2013 compared with the same month a year ago, the Statistics Department said today. 

The increase was contributed by growth in the manufacturing and electricity indices by 2.4 per cent and four per cent respectively. 

However, the mining index declined by 4.2 per cent. 

The IPI in August 2013 has been revised positive 2.7 per cent year-on-year.

In seasonally adjusted terms, the IPI in September 2013 increased by 2.2 per cent month-on-month due to the increase in the manufacturing and electricity indices of 5.9 per cent and 3.3 per cent respectively. 

Meanwhile, the mining index decreased by 1.8 per cent.

The Statistics Department said on a yearly basis, manufacturing output improved by 2.4 per cent in September 2013 following an increase of 5.2 per cent (revised) in August 2013. 

The major sub-sectors which registered increases in September 2013 were: petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products (3.2 per cent); electrical and electronics products (2.4 per cent); and transport equipment and other manufactures (15.1 per cent). 

On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output increased by 5.9 per cent in September 2013.

The mining sector's output fell 4.2 per cent in September 2013 compared to the same month in 2012, due to decreases in the crude oil index (4.1 per cent) and natural gas index (4.5 per cent). 

Compared with August 2013, the seasonally adjusted output for the mining sector decreased by 1.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, the electricity output increased four per cent in September 2013 on a yearly basis. 

In seasonally adjusted terms, electricity output increased by 3.3 per cent in September 2013 compared to the previous month. 

For the third quarter 2013, the department said, Malaysia's IPI expanded 3.7 per cent compared with the same quarter of the previous year. 

The expansion was contributed by increases in all indices -- manufacturing (4.3 per cent), mining (1.5 per cent) and electricity (5.1 per cent).