Malaysia’s Leading Index Slips 0.5% in July Amid Metal Import and Bursa Declines

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Leading Index (LI) slipped 0.5 per cent to 114.3 points in July 2025 compared to 114.9 points a year earlier, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Chief statistician Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin attributed the decline to weaker performance in real imports of basic precious and non-ferrous metals (-16.3 per cent) and the Bursa Malaysia Industrial Index (-13.4 per cent).

Leading Index Slips

However, the monthly LI showed a 0.5 per cent rebound after June’s 0.3 per cent fall, supported by semiconductor imports. DOSM said the smoothed trend remained below 100 points, signalling moderate growth ahead.

Meanwhile, the coincident index (CI), which measures current performance, rose 2.2 per cent to 129.7 points, boosted by EPF contributions and industrial output.

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