Manufacturers Make More Sales in Jan-Nov

By RUPA DAMODARAN

THE Malaysian manufacturing sector registered a total sales value of RM424.8 billion, an increase of 14.6 per cent or RM54.2 billion, during the first 11 months of last year.

The Department of Statistics, in releasing the data yesterday, said the increase was over the RM370.6 billion recorded during the corresponding period in 2004.

It also said the sales value of the sector increased by 12.5 per cent, or RM4.2 billion, to RM37.7 billion in November compared with RM33.5 billion registered in the comparative period a year ago.

However, it noted that the sales value of November decreased by 9.4 per cent or RM3.9 billion when compared with RM41.6 billion reported in October.

Economists had been encouraged by the industrial output in November and expressed confidence that the steady growth in exports, robust intra-Asian trade and the anticipated return of demand for global chips will support growth in the coming months.

Citigroup economist Sim Moh Siong said the willingness by firms to build up inventory stockpile, as hinted by the firm output but soft export data, signalled that a snapback in export was likely in December.

The Department of Statistics also announced that during the 11 months of the year, the total salaries and wages disbursed to the employees in the sector increased by 4.9 per cent or RM0.9 billion to RM19.3 billion.

For November, the total salaries and wages expanded by 6.8 per cent to RM1.78 billion compared with RM1.66 billion in November 2004.