FX.co ★ Malaysia’s Manufacturing PMI Edges Higher in January, Signalling Slight Improvement in Factory Activity

Malaysia’s manufacturing sector showed a marginal uptick in activity at the start of 2026, with the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 50.20 in January from 50.10 in December 2025.

The January 2026 reading, updated on 2 February 2026, keeps the index just above the 50.0 threshold that separates expansion from contraction. On a month-over-month basis, the data indicates a slightly stronger pace of growth compared with December, when the PMI had only just nudged into expansion territory.

The comparison framework for the release highlights that the “Actual” figure reflects the change in January versus December 2025, while the “Previous” figure captured the shift in December 2025 relative to November. Although the improvement is modest, the back-to-back readings above 50.0 suggest that Malaysia’s manufacturing sector is maintaining a cautiously positive momentum into the new year.