KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The producer prices index (PPI) in Malaysia extended its decline in the first quarter of 2026, falling 1.7 percent year-on-year, after a 1.5 percent drop in the previous quarter, official data showed on Monday.
The contraction was driven by declines in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector, which fell 7.5 percent, and manufacturing, which slipped 1.7 percent, the Department of Statistics Malaysia said in a statement.
In contrast, the water supply sector posted the strongest increase 11.1 percent, followed by electricity and gas (6.5 percent) and mining (1.6 percent).
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the PPI edged up 0.9 percent, accelerating from a 0.1 percent rise in the preceding quarter. The increase was mainly supported by mining, which surged 11.5 percent, alongside gains in the utilities sector.
For March, PPI rose 1.1 percent year-on-year, reversing from a 3.4 percent decline recorded in the previous month. ■