KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 10): Malaysia's industrial production index (IPI) rose 4.2% in October from a year earlier on higher manufacturing and electricity output.

In a statement today, the Statistics Department said manufacturing and electricity output rose 6.2% and 4.3% respectively. Growth in both segments had offset the impact from the mining sector's 1.4% decline.

"The mining sector output decreased by 1.4% in October 2015 as compared to the same month in 2014 mainly due to the decline in the natural gas index (5.3%), whilst the crude oil index recorded a slower growth of 2.1%," the department said.

In monthly terms, October IPI fell 0.4% from September mainly due to the 3% drop in mining output, according to the department.

For the 10 months to October, the IPI rose 5% from a year earlier on growth in all three components of the index.

Mining and manufacturing output increased 5.7% and 4.9% respectively. Electricity production rose 2.1%.

October IPI's 4.2% on-year rise was slower than September's 5.1% growth, according to the department.