12/09/2025

BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | SEPT 12, 2025

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Malaysia’s IPI improved to 4.2% in July

As compared to the previous month, he added the mining index moderated to a positive 2.2%, down from the positive growth of 15.8% recorded in June 2025. Meanwhile, electricity generation grew by 1.6% year-on-year in July 2025 (June 2025: 2.3%). On a month-on-month comparison, the electricity index rebounded to a positive 5.5% (June 2025: -4.6%). “Looking at the performance of several countries, the IPI was increased further in United States (1.4%), South Korea (5.0%) and Vietnam (11.8%). Conversely, Japan and Thailand experienced a decline of 0.9% and 4.0% respectively in July 2025,” he said. On the IPI performance for the first seven months of 2025, Mohd Uzir said: “The IPI grew at a slower rate of 2.4% as compared to the same period of the previous year (January-July 2024: 4.0%), influenced by the manufacturing index (4.1%). “Conversely, the mining index and electricity index recorded a decreased at 3.2% and 0.4%, respectively.”

In the meantime, the domestic-oriented industries remained stable at 5% as opposed to the increase of 5.1% recorded in June 2025. The sustained growth was contributed by the positive momentum recorded in all sub sectors except for manufacture of paper & paper products which posted a decrease of 2.1% in July 2025. The manufacturing output related to construction activities namely the manufacture of basic metals; and manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery & equipment increased by 7.4% and 4.1%, respectively. In comparison with June 2025, the domestic oriented industries turned around to 1% as compared to negative 3.1% registered in the previous month. Mohd Uzir said: “The production of mining sector in July 2025 picked up by 4.3%, underpinned by increase in both components where crude oil & condensate index rebounded by 1.0% (June 2025: -3.2%), followed by the natural gas index expanded further by 6.8% (June 2025: 2.3%).”

as well as in the manufacture of basic metals (7.2%) and manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery & equipment (4%). Furthermore, the domestic-oriented industries increased 3.8% as compared to the preceding month. On the number of employees, Mohd Uzir said: “A total of 2.4 million employees were recorded in this sector during July 2025, augmented by 1.1% (June 2025: 1%). The augmentation was mainly driven by the food, beverages & tobacco (2%); non-metallic mineral products, basic metal & fabricated metal products (1.4%); and electrical & electronics products (1.4%).” On a month-on-month basis, he added the number of employees in this sector increased 0.2% .Correspondingly, the salaries & wages paid in the manufacturing sector also posted an expansion of 2.3% (June 2025: 1.6%), amounted to RM8.31 billion in July 2025. In addition, the salaries & wages paid dropped by 0.2% compared to RM8.33 billion recorded in the preceding month. Subsequently, the sales value per employee registered at RM67,833 (2.3%), while the average salaries & wages per employee was RM3,469, increased by 1.2% year-on-year. Mohd Uzir said: “For the period of January to July 2025, the manufacturing sector recorded cumulative sales of RM1.1 trillion, grew 3.7% as compared to the same period of 2024 (January– July 2024: 4.5%).The number of employee upticked by 1.1% to 2.4 million persons, while salaries & wages increased by 1.9% to RM58.5 billion. Moreover, the sales value per employee stood at RM466,735, grew 2.5%.” significant growth and transformation. Under his leadership, PayNet has seen volume soar 275% from three billion to over eight billion transactions while directing Malaysia’s DuitNow real-time payments infrastructure to become one of the most advanced and reliable systems globally. His tenure also saw the launch of flagship financial inclusion programmes such as PayNet Cambah, building digital prosperity for underserved communities, and PayNet Akar, developing future-ready digital skills for Malaysian youth besides positioning PayNet at the forefront of global cross-border payments, and advanced key national initiatives in digital innovation, including the National Fraud Portal. In comparison with the preceding month, he noted that the IPI edged down to negative growth of 0.3%, in contrast to the positive 7.5% recorded in the previous month. “The increase in manufacturing output in July 2025 was supported by higher production in export-oriented industries by 4.1% as against 2.9% recorded in June 2025. “This upturn was primarily led by the manufacture of computer, electronics & optical products; and the manufacture of machinery & equipment, not elsewhere classifed (n.e.c), which registered increases of 8.5% and 10.2%, respectively,” said Mohd Uzir. Furthermore, he added the manufacture of furniture experienced a surge of 11.1% during the month. The year-on-year expansion mirrored the country’s manufactured goods export performance improved with a smaller decline of 1.5% in July 2025. On a month-on-month comparison, the export-oriented industries fell by 2.2% as against positive growth at 11.9% in June 2025.

PUTRAJAYA: The the manufacturing sector increased 3.5% year-on year (June2025: 3.3%), totalled at RM162.5 billion in July 2025. Chief Statistician Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said: “The growth in sales value within the manufacturing sector was mainly contributed by the food, beverages & tobacco sub-sector, expanded by 8.9% in July 2025 (June2025: 14.7%). The growth was further supported by the electrical & electronics products and the non-metallic mineral products, basic metal & fabricated metal products sub sectors, which rose by 6.9% (June 2025: 4.5%) and 3.8% (June 2025: 3.0%), respectively.” In the same period, he added sales value increased by 0.8%, reaching RM162.5 billion from RM161.2 billion recorded in the prior month. Sales value growth in the export-oriented industries which accounting for 71.7% of total sales, grew by 2.7% in July 2025 (June 2025: 2.4%). The performance was primarily due to the increase in the manufacture of vegetable & animal oils & fats by 6.3% (June 2025: 15.9%). Meanwhile, the manufacture of computer, electronics & optical products grew by 6.9% (June 2025: 3.8%), and the manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. advanced by 12.4% (June2025: 10.5%). On a month-on month comparison, export-oriented industries slightly declined by 0.3% (June 2025: 4.1%). Likewise,the domestic-oriented industries remained the steady growth at 5.6% in July 2025. The performance was supported by robust growth in the manufacture of food processing products at 12.7% in July 2025(June 2025: 14%), sales value of PUTRAJAYA: The Industrial Production Index (IPI) improved to 4.2% year-on-year in July 2025, propelled by acceleration in the manufacturing and mining sectors, said the Department of Statistics (DoSM) yesterday. Chief Statistician Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the IPI rose at 4.2% in July 2025 after recording a modest growth of 2.9% in the preceding month. The expansion, he added was primarily induced by manufacturing sector, which increased by 4.4% (June 2025: 3.6%), while the mining sector rebounded to 4.3% (June 2025: -0.01%). Moreover, he said the electricity sector grew by 1.6%, remaining positive albeit at a slower rate compared to 2.3% in June 2025. o Expansion propelled by acceleration in manufacturing and mining sectors

Sales in manufacturing sector increases 3.5% to RM162.5 billion

Barry Callebaut and Maersk open one of the largest cocoa bean warehouses in Asia The warehouse has the capacity to store nearly 40,000 metric tonnes cocoa beans.

world, including Africa, Latin America, and Asia, supporting the growth ambition of Barry Callebaut to satisfy customers requirements across Asia and beyond. “This facility is a game-changer for our supply chain in Asia Pacific,” said Barry Callebaut global cocoa president Alain Freymond. “In today’s environment, where managing the cocoa value chain has become more critical than ever, it gives us greater control over bean quality and enhances our ability to serve customers across the region with speed and precision. “Our partnership with Maersk continues to grow, and this warehouse reflects our shared commitment to building a resilient and future-ready logistics network.” Since 2022, Maersk has supported Barry Callebaut’s supply chain from cocoa-growing origins globally to processing sites in Asia Pacific through integrated ocean and landside logistics services.

JOHOR BHARU: Barry Callebaut Group, a manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa solutions, and A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk), an integrated logistics company, opened their Built-To-Suit cocoa bean warehouse in Pasir Gudang here. The two companies had entered into a decade-long partnership in 2023 to build and operate this facility. This is the first multi-storey ramp-up facility in Pasir Gudang, built specifically to store cocoa beans. “This new facility is aligned with the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, and the Malaysian Cocoa Board national agenda, to strengthen the Agri-commodity sector in this region. It is to sustain our momentum, boosting competitiveness, and reinforcing Malaysia’s stature on the global cocoa map,” said Malaysian Cocoa Board director-general Datuk Dr. Ramle Kasin. The facility will serve as a key storage hub for cocoa beans sourced from around the

Farhan Ahmad to end tenure as PayNet CEO KUALA LUMPUR: Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) yesterday announced that group CEO Farhan Ahmad has decided to step down from his role effective Jan 31, 2026.

The Board of PayNet has appointed Praveen Rajan as CEO-designate, effective Dec 1, 2025. Praveen, currently the chief consumer business officer of CelcomDigi Bhd, brings over two decades of experience in mobile telecommunications and digital industries, with a proven track record in mission-critical, regulated, tech-driven transformations, consumer strategy, and innovation. Farhan has helmed PayNet since early 2022, leading the organisation through a period of