02.02.202601:13:23UTC+00Malaysia Manufacturing PMI Rises to 20-Month High

In January 2026, Malaysia's S&P Global Manufacturing PMI increased slightly to 50.2, up from 50.1 in December. This represents the third consecutive month of growth and the most significant improvement since May 2024. Growth was driven by a resurgence in production and more stable demand conditions. Notably, new export orders rose for the first time in five months, achieving their quickest growth since July 2024. While manufacturers moderately increased their purchasing activities, this contributed to softening the decline in pre-production inventories. Following December's rapid job creation, a record high, firms decreased staffing levels in January but effectively managed workloads, as backlogs decreased for the fourth consecutive month. Input costs fell for the first time since May 2020, owing to the appreciation of the Malaysian ringgit. Although output price inflation increased, it remained modest and below the series average. Lastly, outlook sentiment regarding future output improved significantly, ranking as the second-highest since October 2013, only surpassed by that of November 2025.