Malaysia: February industrial output up 4.7% on-year

• Apr 11, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s industrial production index (IPI) rose 4.7% in February from a year ago, underpinned by the manufacturing sector, but the growth was below a Bloomberg forecast of a 6.1% growth.
The Statistics Department said on Tuesday the growth in February 2017 was driven by positive expansion in manufacturing (6.5%), mining (0.4%) and electricity (1.5%).
“The manufacturing sector output increase at a faster pace of 6.5% in February 2017 after an expansion of 4.6% recorded in January 2017,” it said. 
Powering the growth in the manufacturing sector were the major sub-sectors including electrical and electronics products (8.1%); food, beverages and tobacco (15.9%); and petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products (3.7%).

As for the mining sector, output inched up just 0.4% in February 2017 after a 1.1% rise in January 2017. 
The department explained this was mainly due to a further decline in crude oil index by 4.7%. However, the natural gas index posted a better growth of 7%.
The electricity sector output grew marginally by 1.5% in February 2017 after registering a growth of 1.1% in January 2017.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2017/04/11/february-industrial-output-up-4pt7pct-on-year/#jpBJPDpE7VCFusF2.99