KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — The manufacturing industry achieved capacity utilisation of 82.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2024 (3Q 2024), an increase of 3.0 percentage points from the same quarter the previous year, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said that transport equipment and other manufacturers led the top three sub-sectors with the highest capacity utilisation, reaching 84.1 per cent.
This was followed by non-metallic mineral products, basic metals, and fabricated metal products at 83.6 per cent, and textiles, wearing apparel, leather, and footwear at 83.0 per cent.
"In comparison with the previous quarter, manufacturing capacity utilisation rose by 0.3 percentage points from 2Q 2024’s 82.1 per cent," he said in a statement today.
Uzir noted that the capacity utilisation rate remained above 80 per cent throughout 3Q 2024, with the industry operating at 82.2 per cent in July, an increase of 3.6 percentage points compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, August saw 82.8 per cent, and September recorded 82.3 per cent.
Regarding export-oriented industries, he said capacity utilisation increased by 3.4 percentage points to 81.8 per cent in 3Q 2024, up from 78.4 per cent in 3Q 2023.
Uzir attributed the growth to higher capacity utilisation in the manufacturing of computer, electronics, and optical products, as well as chemical and chemical products.
He also noted a 2.1 percentage point expansion in the capacity utilisation of domestic-oriented industries, reaching 83.8 per cent.
"The expansion was primarily influenced by the manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (84.4 per cent), and processed food products (84.9 per cent) industries, which increased by 2.7 percentage points and 1.7 percentage points, respectively," Uzir said.
— Bernama
