KUALA LUMPUR: Data from the Markit Malaysia Purchasing Managers’ Index for March. Readings above 50.0 signal an improvement in business conditions while ones below indicate deterioration.
Malaysia’s manufacturing activity slumped to five-month lows on weak demand, as production fell for the first time in eight months and new orders contracted for the second month. New export orders also shrank, hitting a 15-month low, pressured by lower demand from international markets. * Firms reduced their purchases due to subdued demand, while input cost inflation rose to its highest so far this year on rising raw material costs.
“Malaysia’s manufacturing sector ended Q1 2018 on a slightly weaker footing, with output declining for the first time in eight months amid reports of poor demand conditions. “Price pressures continued to escalate, with both input and output prices rising at faster rates. However, firms’ margins remained under pressure as they continued to face limited pricing power.
