KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 — Seven states surpassed the nation’s manufacturing industry capacity utilisation of 81.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024 (4Q 2023: 79.9 per cent) with the first three states being Labuan at 97.9 per, followed by Johor (84.8 per cent), and Pahang (84.6 per cent).
It was followed by Selangor (84.1 per cent), Melaka (84.0 per cent), Negeri Sembilan (83.2 per cent) and Terengganu (82.8 per cent), the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reported today.
The lowest capacity utilisation rate posted by Perlis with 67.4 per cent decreased by 5.3 percentage points, compared to the same quarter last year.
In this quarter, all sub-sectors posted capacity utilisation above 80 per cent, with the highest rate recorded by the non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products sub-sector at 84.7 per cent, followed by textiles, wearing apparel, leather and footwear (83.4 per cent), and transport equipment and other manufactures (82.0 per cent).
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin, speaking on the release of Manufacturing Industry Capacity Utilisation Statistics, Malaysia for the fourth quarter of 2024, said that in comparison with the previous quarter, the capacity utilisation of the Manufacturing industry registering a mild decline of 0.5 percentage points (3Q 2024: 82.4 per cent).
The year-on-year increase in monthly capacity utilisation performance was recorded throughout the fourth quarter of 2024, which was October (81.9 per cent; +1.5 percentage points), November (82.2 per cent; +2.1 percentage points), and December (81.4 per cent; +2.2 percentage points).
Furthermore, factors including low demand; insufficient supply of materials; and the repair and maintenance of machinery and equipment remained the main cause of the under-utilisation of capacity in the manufacturing industry.
He said the capacity utilisation in the export-oriented industries increased by 2.4 percentage points to 80.9 per cent (Q4 2023: 78.5 per cent). The manufacture of furniture registered the highest rate at 87.8 per cent, followed by the manufacture of machinery and equipment (86.9 per cent).
Nonetheless, two industries recorded a capacity utilisation below 80 per cent: the manufacture of vegetable and animal oils & fats (77.6 per cent), and the manufacture of wood and products of wood and cork, except furniture, manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials (76.9 per cent).
Compared to the third quarter of 2024, the capacity utilisation rate of the export-oriented industries declined marginally by 0.9 percentage points from 81.8 per cent in the preceding quarter.
In the meantime, the capacity utilisation in the domestic-oriented industries remained positive albeit at a slower rate of 1.0 percentage points to 83.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Two industries in this segment posted the highest capacity utilisation rate: the manufacture of tobacco products (92.0 per cent); and the manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products (86.6 per cent).
Meanwhile, the lowest capacity utilisation rate was posted by the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers at 79.9 per cent; followed by the manufacture of paper and paper products industry with 79.0 per cent.
In comparison with the previous quarter, the capacity utilisation in the domestic-oriented industries grew by 0.1 percentage points from 83.8 per cent in the third quarter of 2024.
The manufacturing industry capacity utilisation operated at 81.8 per cent rate in 2024, increased by 2.4 percentage points compared to negative 1.0 percentage points last year.
— Bernama
