TOKYO - Malaysia's manufacturing sector showed improvement in April with growth for export orders, according to a survey.
The Nikkei Malaysia Purchasing Manager's Index, or PMI, rose from 47.2 in March to 49.2 in April, recording its highest since September 2018.
Readings above 50 indicate an expansion while those below 50 points to a contraction.
The improvement was supported by foreign demand. New export orders rose for the first time in five months. Higher workloads from overseas sources were attributed to business wins in Europe, the U.S., Singapore and Japan.
Healthy export demand eased sentiments. Business confidence about production in the year ahead reached its highest level since October 2013.
The PMI suggested that "manufacturing should should help drive faster economic growth to just over 5% at the start of the second quarter," said Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit, which complies the survey.
(Nikkei)
For more information,visit IHS Markit website.
