KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 — Malaysia’s industrial production index (IPI) for 2022 narrowed to 6.9 per cent from 7.2 per cent recorded in 2021, driven by the manufacturing index (8.2 per cent); electricity index (4.5 per cent); and mining index (2.8 per cent), according to the Statistics Department (DoSM).

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said for the final quarter of 2022 (4Q 2022), the index grew at a slower rate of 4.1 per cent compared to 4Q 2021, attributed to the growth in manufacturing (4.0 per cent) and mining (6.2 per cent) indices.

"In December, the index’s growth slipped to 3.0 per cent from 4.8 per cent recorded in November, driven by the mining index (4.1 per cent) and manufacturing index (3.0 per cent),” he said in a statement.

He said output in the manufacturing sector expanded by 3.0 per cent in December 2022, driven by electrical and electronics products (7.2 per cent); transport equipment and other manufactures (8.5 per cent); food, beverages and tobacco products (3.4 per cent); and non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products (2.2 per cent).

Smaller declines were recorded in the output of petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products (-0.9 per cent); and textiles, wearing apparel, leather products and footwear (-0.5 per cent).

Meanwhile, the production of wood products, furniture, paper products and printing continued to decline by 4.3 per cent (November 2022: -3.6 per cent). — Bernama