KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- The sales value of the manufacturing sector in June 2012 registered a growth of 6.3 per cent to RM52.8 billion as compared with RM49.6 billion reported in the corresponding month last year.

In a statement today, the Department of Statistics said the year-on-year (y-o-y) growth was mainly due to sales increases in 80 of 116 industries, or 69 per cent, covered in the survey.

"The manufacture of refined petroleum products was the highest contributor with sales of RM12.57 billion, a 20.1 per cent growth, from RM10.46 billion in June 2011," it said.

It said sales of the manufacture of electronic valve and tubes and printed circuit boards contributed RM2.12 billion, while sales of the manufacture of motor vehicles jumped 25.4 per cent to RM1.61 billion in June 2012 from RM1.28 billion in the same month last year.

Total employees engaged in the manufacturing sector in June 2012 increased by 3,268, or 0.3 per cent, as compared to 1.023 million employees in June 2011, it said.

The department said productivity in June 2012 increased by six per cent to RM51,370 as compared with the corresponding month of the previous year.

On a month-on-month basis, it said, the sales value for June 2012 increased by 1.6 per cent (RM800 million) as compared with May 2012.

"The sales value in May 2012 was a revised positive 8.8 per cent y-o-y to record RM51.9 billion," it said.

The total number of employees engaged in the manufacturing sector in June 2012 decreased by 0.1 per cent, or 855 persons, to 1.027 million employees compared with the preceding month, it said.

"Month-on-month basis, average sales value per employee or productivity in June 2012 increased by 1.7 per cent to register RM51,370," it said.