Malaysia April manufacturing sales jump 9.1% on electronics gains

Export-oriented industries and domestic demand both accelerate during the month.

Malaysia's manufacturing sector posted sales of RM175b in April 2026, representing a year-on-year expansion of 9.1% — a sharp uptick from the 5.3% growth recorded in March — as electrical and electronics products drove the bulk of the gains, official data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia showed.

The electrical and electronics sub-sector was the principal engine of growth, rising 13.4% year on year in April, broadly in line with the 13.3% registered the previous month. The food, beverages and tobacco sub-sector contributed additional momentum, growing 9.0% against 7.8% in March, whilst petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products swung to positive territory with a 4.4% increase after contracting 5.1% in March. On a month-on-month basis, total sales edged up 1.1% from RM173.1b in March.

Export industries power ahead

Export-oriented industries, which account for 70.6% of total manufacturing sales, expanded 9.6% year on year in April, accelerating from 6.5% in March. Computer, electronics and optical products led the advance at 15%, marginally easing from 15.2% the prior month. Vegetable and animal oils and fats rose 11%, whilst Coke and refined petroleum products recovered to 5.3% growth after contracting 2.8% in March. Despite the annual gains, export-oriented sales retreated 0.5% on a month-on-month basis.

Domestic sector gathers pace

Domestic-oriented industries recorded year-on-year growth of 7.8% in April, up considerably from 2.5% in March. Food processing products contributed a 5.8% increase, whilst non-metallic mineral products and the manufacture of basic metals grew 8.8% and 6.4%, respectively. On a sequential basis, domestic-oriented industries expanded a robust 5.1% month on month.

Employment and wages

The sector employed 2.4 million workers in April, up 1.2% year on year from 1.1% in March. The food, beverages and tobacco sub-sector recorded the fastest headcount growth at 2.2%, followed by non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products at 1.7%, and electrical and electronics products at 1.5%. On a month-on-month basis, employment rebounded 0.7%.

Salaries and wages expanded 3.1% year on year to RM8.56b, accelerating from 2.2% in March, and edged up 0.1% from the prior month. Sales value per employee stood at RM71,993, a gain of 7.7% year on year, whilst average salaries per employee rose 1.8% to RM3,524.

Cumulative performance

For the first four months of 2026, the manufacturing sector recorded cumulative sales of RM676.5b, growing 6.4% against the 4.2% expansion posted in the same period of 2025. Employment rose 1.2% to 2.4 million persons, salaries and wages grew 2.5% to RM34.4b, and sales value per employee increased 5.1% to RM278,344.