Malaysia’s wholesale, retail sales jump 15.2% YoY in April

This is due to the rise in online purchases and the Hari Raya celebration.

Wholesale and retail trade sales in Malaysia jumped 15.2% year-on-year (YoY) in April to reach around $29b (RM128b), mainly driven by the Hari Raya celebration and the rise in online purchases, data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia showed.

In a statement, the department said all sub-sectors contributed to the positive growth led by retail trade which grew by 20.9%, followed by wholesale trade with an 11.5% growth, and motor vehicle by 11.3%.

In terms of volume index, wholesale and retail posted a 10% YoY growth to 140.6 points, led by retail trade a 16.6% growth, motor vehicles by 7.2% and wholesale trade by 3.3%. The seasonally adjusted volume index was up 7.9% month-on-month (MoM) in April.

Wholesale trade raked a sales value of around $13.4b (RM59b), with the increase linked to the wholesale of household goods by 22.9%, followed by agricultural raw materials and live animals (14.9%), and food, beverages, and tobacco (11.8%). Compared to the previous month, wholesale trade rose 3.1%.

The volume index in the wholesale trade expanded 3.3% YoY to 130.6 points, whilst the seasonally adjusted volume index rose 5.2% MoM.

Meanwhile, retail trade sales reached about $12.1b (RM53.6b), led by the growth in the sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores (37.7%), retail trade not in stores, stalls or markets (28.6%), and sales in non-specialised stores (26.4%). Month-on-month, it grew 7.4%.

The volume index was up 16.6% YoY to 157.3 points, and seasonally adjusted growth was at 13.6% MoM.

Motor vehicle sales value rose to around $3.5b (RM.15.4b), attributed to the increase in maintenance and repair of motor vehicles (33.8%), and the sale of motor vehicles parts and accessories (31.1%). Compared to March 2022, it fell 7.7%.

The volume index of motor vehicles rose 7.2% YoY to 121. Points, and posted a 10.7% MoM seasonally adjusted volume index growth.

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