Industrial Production Index (IPI) slowed in February (3.1% YoY; Jan: 4.3%), but beat expectations (KIBB: 1.8%; consensus: 1.8%).
Kenanga Investment Bank (Kenanga), in its Economic Viewpoint today (Apr 9), said overall, growth was partially weighed by a slowdown in the manufacturing sector but was mitigated by higher growth in the electricity and mining index and partly due to a lower base effect.
MoM (-6.3%; Jan: 2.0%): fell sharply to a ten-month low, partly attributable to a seasonal factor amid shorter working month and festive holidays.
The manufacturing index moderated in February (1.2% YoY; Jan: 3.7%). Domestic-oriented: slowed (3.8%; Jan: 8.0%) but remained supported by the manufacture of fabricated metal products (8.4%; Jan: 11.9%), followed by the manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products (5.1%; Jan: 6.6%)
Export-oriented: contracted slightly (-0.1%; Jan: 1.6%) due to a sharp decline in the manufacture of vegetable & animal oils & fats (-13.5%; Jan -2.6%), followed by chemicals & chemical products (-2.8%; Jan: 6.1%) and electrical equipment (-2.2%; Jan: 1.4%).
MoM (-6.3%; Jan: 1.8%): fell to a ten-month low, following a positive turnaround in the preceding month. ● Mining index growth expanded (8.1%; Jan: 5.0%) to a 16-month high attributable to a higher output of natural gas (11.9%; Jan: 6.6%), followed by extraction of crude oil & natural gas (8.1%; Jan: 5.0%).
MoM (-6.9%; Jan: 3.1%): fell to an eight-month low.
Electricity index accelerated (10.9%; Jan: 8.3%) to an 18-month high or the highest since August 2022 − MoM (-4.5%; Jan: 2.0%): fell to a three-month low, following two straight months of expansion.
Manufacturing index forecast retained at 4.6% in 2024 (2023: 0.7%), as momentum may pick up pace in the 2H24.
Kenanga continues to believe that the manufacturing sector will improve further towards the end of the year, mainly driven by the expected upswing in the technology cycle and China’s gradual recovery following a significant stimulus implemented by the country.
Nevertheless, the manufacturing condition could experience a sluggish recovery in the near term, as reflected by the latest Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reading, which fell to 48.4 in March (Feb: 49.5) and remained at a contraction level since August 2022.
Kenanga’s assumption is also premised on the positive growth trajectory supported by higher demand from regional peers and better-than-anticipated performance among advanced economies.
With that said, Kenanga projects 1Q24 GDP growth to expand to 3.3% (4Q23: 3.0%) and maintain overall growth forecast at 4.5% – 5.0% in 2024 (2023: 3.7%).
