by S BIRRUNTHA / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

MALAYSIA’S wholesale and retail trade registered at RM100 billion in August, a decline of 10.2% from last year due to the negative impact from lockdown restrictions, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia.

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said this was the third consecutive double-digit negative growth following the decline of 14.7% in July and 10.3% in June.

However, according to him, the sales value of this sector grew 7.9% month-on-month (MoM) driven by the resumption of 11 economic and distribution operations in states under Phase 1 and 2 of the National Recovery Plan.

“Motor vehicles sub-sector plunged 57.6% or RM7.9 billion to register RM5.8 billion in August 2021. retail trade also dropped 7.5% or RM3.4 billion to RM42.3 billion.

“This was followed by wholesale trade which edged down 0.1% to reach RM51.9 billion,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Looking at the performance across sub-sectors, Mohd Uzir noted that the motor vehicles sub-sector which recorded a decline of 57.6% was dragged down by the sales of motor vehicles which slumped 60.9% or RM4.8 billion to RM3.1 billion.

He added that this was followed by the sale of motor vehicles parts and accessories which experienced a contraction of 47.2% to record RM1.7 billion.

“Similarly, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles also decreased 48.6% to RM900 million followed by sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles with a decline of 79% to reach RM800 million.

“For MoM comparison, sales of this sub-sector spiked 188.1%, spearheaded by sales of motor vehicles which registered 135.5%, after showrooms and sales centres were allowed to operate in key states,” he said.

Commenting further on the retail trade sub-sector, Mohd Uzir said the contraction of 7.5% was attributed to retail sales in specialised stores which declined 14.8% or RM1.4 billion to RM8.1 billion.

Likewise, he said retail sale in non-specialised stores also tumbled 8.1% to record RM15.4 billion, followed by the retail sale of household goods (7.5%), retail sale of automotive fuels (6.2%), retail sale of information and communication equipment (0.9%), retail sale of food, beverage and tobacco (1.3%), and retail sale of cultural and recreation goods (1.4%).

However, he added that retail sales not in stores, stalls or markets, as well as retail sales in stalls and markets recorded positive growths of 20.8% and 5.9%, respectively.

As for monthly comparison, he said retail trade went up 2.9% with all groups in this sub-sector posted positive growth.

Mohd Uzir informed that the decline of 0.1% in the wholesale trade sub-sector this month was attributed to the wholesale of household goods which decreased 9.7% or RM1 billion to RM9.7 billion.

He said this was followed by wholesale of machinery, equipment and supplies and wholesale on a fee or contract basis which fell 6.7% and 19.4% respectively.

“Conversely, other specialised wholesale, wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco and wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals grew 5.1%, 3.4% and 3.9%, respectively.

“For MoM comparison, sales of this sub-sector grew 4.7%,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Mohd Uzir also went on to note that the index of retail sale over the Internet recorded 13.8% growth year-on-year (YoY).

He said as for seasonally adjusted, the index rose 1.7% as against the previous month.

However, he noted that in terms of volume index, wholesale and retail trade registered a YoY decline of 12.2% and the contraction was caused by motor vehicles which plunged 59%.

“This was followed by retail trade and wholesale trade which fell 8.1% and 3.3% respectively.

“Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted volume index went up 5.3% MoM,” he said.