KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Industrial Production Index (IPI) increased marginally by 2.6 per cent in July 2018 over the same month last year supported by an increase in the manufacturing and electricity indices, the Statistics Department says.

In a statement, Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the manufacturing sector output increased 5.2 per cent in July 2018 after recording a growth of 4.5 per cent in June 2018, driven by major sub-sectors namely electrical and electronic equipment products (8.0 per cent), petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products (4.0 per cent) and transport equipment and other manufactures products (13.5 per cent).

“The report also stated that the electricity output increased by 4.5 per cent in July 2018 following an increase of 3.0 per cent in June 2018.

“Meanwhile, the mining sector output registered a decline of 5.9 per cent in July 2018 as compared with the same period of the previous year due to the decrease in the natural gas index (-15.2 per cent),” he said.

Meanwhile, the crude oil index increased by 4.5 per cent, he added. - Bernama