Malaysia vehicle sales rise 3.7 per cent in January
SALES of motor vehicles in Malaysia rose 3.7 per cent to 11.4 billion ringgit (Bt89.9 billion) in January from a year ago but fell 9.4 per cent from December, according to the country’s Statistics Department.
It said year on year, the index of motor vehicles increased 2.4 per cent to 122.8 points in January. The seasonally adjusted index of motor vehicles fell 4.7 per cent in January against December.
Sales of vehicles are part of the sales value of wholesale and retail trade, which rose 8 per cent to 93.6 billion ringgit in January from a year ago.
“The sales value consists of wholesale trade (46.1 billion ringgit), retail trade (36.1 billion ringgit) and motor vehicles (11.4 billion ringgit) businesses. The positive growth was contributed by retail trade (9 per cent) and wholesale trade (8.4 per cent) businesses,” it said.
The department said the index of wholesale and retail trade which measures the volume changes rose 5.6 per cent to 152.1 points in January from a year ago. The growth was led by retail trade (7 per cent), wholesale trade (5.4 per cent) and motor vehicles (2.4 per cent).
“However, the seasonally adjusted index of wholesale and retail trade decreased 1.5 per cent as compared to the preceding month,” it said.
It said the sales value of wholesale trade business grew 8.4 per cent to 46.1 billion ringgit from a year ago. On a monthly basis, the sales value of this business increased 0.8 per cent.
The index of wholesale trade rose 5.4 per cent to 159.9 points in January from a year ago.
Month on month, the index of wholesale trade (seasonally adjusted) slipped 1.7 per cent from December.
Retail trade business recorded an increase in sales value of 3 billion ringgit or 9 per cent on year but fell 0.1 per cent on-month.
The index of retail trade rose 7 per cent to 155.8 points in January from a month ago.
The seasonally adjusted index of retail trade fell 0.6 per cent on-month.
