Malaysia's July manufacturing sales growth eases while job numbers rise modestly
July 2026 saw Malaysia's manufacturing sales increase 9.1% year-on-year, a slower pace than June, while employment in the sector grew 1.1% to 2.4 million.
According to a statement from Malaysia's Statistics Department, manufacturing sales in July 2026 climbed to RM177.3 billion, marking a 9.1% year-on-year increase but only a 0.2% rise from June, slower than the 9.8% growth recorded in the prior month. The electrical and electronics products sub-sector drove the strongest performance with a 17.8% annual gain, while food, beverages and tobacco grew 3.9% and petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic rose 3.6%.
Export-oriented manufacturing accounted for 72.2% of total sales and grew 9.9% year-on-year, despite a 1.0% decline compared with May. Domestic-focused manufacturing expanded 7.2% year-on-year, led by basic metals, food processing and motor vehicle production. Employment in the sector rose 1.1% year-on-year to 2.4 million, supported mainly by food, beverages and tobacco, non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products, and the E&E sub-sector. Monthly employment increased 0.1% after a 0.2% drop in June, and wages grew 2.8% year-on-year to RM8.55 billion.
