September 2026 Wholesale, Retail Trade Register Higher Sales Of RM183.1 Bln - DOSM
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade registered higher sales of RM183.1 billion in September 2026, a 15.9 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) rise underpinned by growth across all three sub-sectors, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
The volume index rose by 5.5 per cent in tandem with sales expansion, it said.
Wholesale trade sales surged by RM17.9 billion or 25.3 per cent y-o-y to RM89.0 billion.
"Retail trade sales registered RM73.7 billion, a RM4.7 billion increase, or 6.9 per cent. Motor vehicles recorded sales of RM20.5 billion, up by RM2.4 billion or 13.4 per cent," it said in a statement today.
Wholesale trade continued to lead the growth in September, expanding by 25.3 per cent, mainly driven by the other specialised wholesale group, which grew by 56.7 per cent to RM40.4 billion, DOSM said.
The increase was supported by higher sales of petrol, diesel, lubricants and liquefied petroleum gas, influenced partly by movements in market prices, particularly for petroleum-related products.
Meanwhile, wholesale of household goods rose by 7.0 per cent to RM16.2 billion, supported by demand for pharmaceutical and medical goods, electrical and electronics goods, and clothing.
Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco rose by 6.0 per cent, driven by higher sales of rice, other grains, flour and sugar, and fish and other seafood.
“Additionally, wholesale of machinery, equipment and supplies grew by 11.0 per cent to RM6.6 billion, mainly attributable to sales of computers, electronic parts and telephone and communications equipment," DOSM said.
It said September 2026’s retail trade sub-sector stayed positive, with sales value up by 6.9 per cent to RM73.7 billion.
Retail sales in non-specialised stores drove growth, expanding 7.9 per cent to RM29.2 billion, supported by higher sales in supermarkets and mini markets.
Similarly, retail sales of other goods in specialised stores rose by 6.0 per cent to RM15.1 billion, mainly driven by higher demand for pharmaceutical and medical goods, and perfume and cosmetics.
Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores increased by 10.6 per cent, while retail sales of information and communications equipment in specialised stores grew by 6.8 per cent.
DOSM said the motor vehicles sub-sector recorded a 13.4 per cent increase in September 2026, supported mainly by motor vehicle sales which increased by 17.3 per cent to RM10.1 billion.
"Growth was also supported by sales in sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories (33.0 per cent), motor vehicle parts and accessories (6.9 per cent), and maintenance and repair of motor vehicles (6.1 per cent)," it said.
Meanwhile, the online retail sales index recorded y-o-y growth of 6.3 per cent in September 2026, moderating from the previous month’s 6.7 per cent increase.
In volume terms, September’s wholesale and retail trade sector registered a 5.5 per cent y-o-y rise, led by the motor vehicles sub-sector at 12.1 per cent, followed by wholesale trade (5.5 per cent) and retail trade (4.2 per cent).
-- BERNAMA