• Distributive trade sales increased to 6.6% YoY in May

• Growth recorded in all wholesale and retail sub-sectors

• Robust consumer spending support global retail sales

• An expected weakening in consumer spending

Malaysia's wholesale & retail trade sector experienced a positive growth in monthly sales value. The sector's sales value reached RM138.0bn, representing a year-onyear increase of 6.6%. This growth rate is higher than the 6.3% YoY growth recorded in April. The positive growth was contributed by all sub-sectors.

By sub-sectors, retail trade expanded by registering 5.0% YoY or RM2.8bn to RM58.8bn. Growth was supported by retail sales in non-specialised stores which grew 8.4% (Apr: 18.0%) or RM1.7bn to RM22.5bn. Other groups in this sub-sector also recorded positive growth namely retail sales in specialised stores (May: 6.0%; Apr: 17.4%), retail sales of food, beverages & tobacco (May: 10.0%; Apr: 15.1%), retail sales of automotive fuel (May: 6.0%; Apr: 19.6%) and retail sales not in stores, stalls or market (May: 2.5%; Apr: 8.9%). Wholesale trade generated sales value of RM62.2bn in May with a growth of 4.4% YoY. This increase was attributed to nonspecialised wholesale trade (May: 11.6%; Apr: 8.5%), wholesale of food, beverages & tobacco (May: 9.6%; Apr: 7.7%), wholesale of agricultural raw materials & live animals (8.6%), wholesale of household goods (7.9%) and wholesale on a fee or contract basis (7.3%). Sales value of motor vehicles sub-sector surged 22.0% YoY or RM3.1bn to register RM17.0bn. The double-digit growth was pushed up by sales of motor vehicles which jumped 29.8% (Apr: -17.3%) or RM2.1bn to RM8.9bn. Total vehicles sales for the month of May saw a total of 61,795 units delivered to customers, which represents a 32.7% MoM increase from the 46,583 units sold in April. On a year-to-year basis, the number of vehicles sold in May was 22% higher. The rebound was brought on by a few factors, including car companies fulfilling backlogged orders as well as bookings received for new model launches.

On a monthly basis, the sales value of wholesale & retail trade increased 1.5%, propelled by motor vehicles with 16.2% and wholesale trade 2.1% and. Retail trade was down 2.7% for the month.

Source: BIMB Securities Research - 13 Jul 2023