Despite the growth, sales of wholesale and retail trade remained negative from a year earlier, the 3rd decline in a row after March and April 2020

by HARIZAH KAMEL/ pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

THE reopening of almost all economic sectors saw wholesale and retail trade record sales worth RM84.4 billion, an increase of RM17.5 billion or 26.3% in May 2020 compared to the previous month.

According to the latest data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM), the motor vehicles subsector contributed the most to this increase with RM6.8 billion, an increase of RM6 billion or 709%.

DoSM chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said sales of motor vehicles spearheaded the increment to register a total sale of RM3.2 billion, up RM2.7 billion or 622% month-on-month (MoM).

“Sales of motor vehicles parts and accessories also increased RM1.6 billion or 615.3% to record RM1.8 billion. This was followed by maintenance and repair of motor vehicles which generated sales of RM1 billion, an additional of RM0.9 billion or 987.1% against April 2020,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Additionally, retail trade recorded RM36.9 billion, an increase of RM8.6 billion or 30.5% with all retail activities recorded positive growth in May especially in retail sale in specialised stores with RM6.9 billion, an increase of RM3.1 billion.

This was followed by retail sale in non-specialised stores, which rose RM1.5 billion to RM14.6 billion, while the retail sale of household equipment expanded to record RM4.4 billion, an increase of RM1.5 billion.

Meanwhile, online retail sales that portray e-commerce activities recorded 9.3% monthly growth in May 2020. As for annual comparison, it jumped 39.3%.

Similarly, wholesale trade rose RM3 billion to record RM40.7 billion or 8% due to the loosening of restrictions on business.

“Wholesale of household goods recorded the highest MoM increase of RM1.3 billion, expanding 17.7% to achieve RM8.5 billion. This was followed by wholesale of food and beverage, and tobacco which registered a sales value of RM9.8 billion, increasing RM0.7 billion,” said Mohd Uzir.

He noted that wholesale of machinery, equipment and supplies showed an increase to RM3.4 billion, up RM0.6 billion.

Despite the positive MoM growth in May, sales of wholesale and retail trade remained negative at 23.8% from a year earlier, the third decline in a row after March and April 2020.

Mohd Uzir revealed that the wholesale trade subsector registered the biggest fall among subsectors with RM12.6 billion (-23.6%) compared to a year ago.

“Similarly, retail trade decreased by RM7.2 billion (-16.2%), and motor vehicles was also down to RM6.6 billion (-49.5%) this month,” he added.

In terms of volume index, wholesale and retail trade roared back 30.3% against the preceding month, attributed to motor vehicles which achieved a stunning 763.3%.

Retail and wholesale trade also posted growth of 32.9% and 12.0% respectively, this month.

As for the seasonally adjusted volume index, it recovered 25.5% after recording negative growth in April 2020.