Malaysia Manufacturing PMI Steady at 50.1 in December, Signals Continued Expansion

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s manufacturing sector showed sustained improvement as the S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) remained unchanged at 50.1 in December 2025, marking two consecutive months of expansion after a prolonged contraction period.

Employment surged for the second straight month, recording the strongest gain in over seven years. Output neared stabilisation, while new orders growth eased slightly. Export orders declined for the fourth month, with a marginally steeper drop.

Manufacturing PMI Steady

Purchasing activity stagnated, and supplier delays persisted due to weather issues. Input and output price inflation stayed low, with inventories falling sharply. Business sentiment remained positive, supported by recovering demand.

MBSB, the analyst firm, noted that industrial production growth accelerated to +6.0% yoy in October 2025, the fastest in three years. Despite expected moderation in November amid softer exports, the robust PMI signals an ongoing uptrend in manufacturing activity.

Business News