Malaysia's manufacturing sector continued to contract in May, though at a slower pace, with the seasonally adjusted S&P Global Malaysia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising slightly from 48.6 in April to 48.8. The twelfth consecutive month showed a decline in operating conditions, with GDP growth remaining stable compared to the previous quarter and official manufacturing production data showing on Tuesday sustained year-on-year improvements. Production levels remained subdued, with the seasonally adjusted output index staying below the neutral 50.0 mark. Output has now been scaled back for 12 straight months, though May's decline was the softest in three months. Manufacturers also noted that subdued conditions were partly linked to a steady rise in operating expenses. Input prices rose for the sixtieth consecutive month, with May seeing the strongest uptick since November 2024. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser Download