MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Electronics exports from Malaysia are expected to grow 10% this year, a sharp rebound from the 25% drop in 2011, the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Philippines Inc. said yesterday.
“Electronics prospects for 2012 hopefully would be better in 2012. Last year was a bad year; the market was so weak,” SEIPI president Ernie Santiago said in a statement.
SEIPI estimates for growth are based on higher global demand for consumer electronics. The association said industrial spending is not keeping pace.“Companies are not spending so much on technology, capital expenditure for investments on automation on assembly is weak and there is no change in technology,” Santiago said.
SEIPI did allow that Malaysia would benefit from Thailand’s flooding. “Thailand is no longer a competitor” for investment from abroad, Santiago said.
Major electronics manufacturers with operations in Malaysia include Plexus, Intel, Flextronics, Beyonics, Agilent, Hitachi and Osram, among others.