KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 11): Malaysia’s e-commerce income grew 23.3% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM267.6 million in the second quarter of 2021 (2Q21), driven mainly by the manufacturing and services sectors, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). 

In a statement today, DOSM also shared that the revenue of the services sector recorded a significant growth of 20.5% to RM404.5 billion compared to the same quarter in the previous year amid low base effects. 

“Wholesale and retail trade, food and beverages, and accommodation segment increased 21.8% to RM324.6 billion.

“This was followed by the information and communication, and transportation and storage segment [which grew] 14.7% to RM59.5 billion. 

“Health, education and arts, entertainment and recreation segment and professional and real estate agent segment experienced the same trend, [recording a] 27.3% increase to RM12.2 billion and 8% [increase] to RM8.2 billion respectively,” said chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin. 

Uzir added that 3.6 million persons were engaged in this sector, which was lower by 25,812 persons or 0.7% as compared to the same period last year. 

The decrease was attributed to the information and communication, and transportation and storage segment, which was lower by 11,297 persons or 2.4%, followed by wholesale and retail trade, food and beverages and accommodation segment, which was lower by 6,127 persons or 0.2%, he said. 

“Meanwhile, health, education and arts, entertainment and recreation segment fell 1.7% or 4,772 persons. Professional and real estate agent also declined 3,616 persons or 2.0%,” Uzir highlighted. 

The chief statistician also shared that compared to the same quarter of last year, salaries and wages paid increased by 0.4% or RM100.5 million, underpinned by the information and communication and transportation and storage segment, which increased RM120.8 million or 2.8%. 

“This was followed by wholesale and retail trade, food and beverages and accommodation segment and health, education and arts, entertainment and recreation segment, [which] rose RM9.3 million and RM3 million respectively,” he said.