KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's e-commerce income rose by 23.3% to RM267.6bil in the second quarter ended June 30, 2021 due to strong growth in the manufacturing and services sectors, the Statistics Department said.

       According to its report on the performance of the services sector and e-commerce income in 2Q this year issued on Wednesday, the RM267.6bil in e-commerce income was an increase of 5.1% from the first quarter's (1Q21) RM254.6bil.

       As for the revenue of the services sector expanded by 20.5% to RM404.5bil from a year ago aided by a lower base when it shrank by 5.6%. When compared with 1Q 21, the revenue was down by 1.7%.

       Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said wholesale & retail trade, food & beverages and accommodation segment recorded an increase 21.8% to RM324.6bil.

       He said the information & communication and transportation & storage segment rose by 14.7% to RM59.5bil.

       As for health, education and arts, entertainment & recreation segment it reported a 27.3% increase to RM12.20bil. The professional and real estate agent segment recorded an 8% rise to RM8.2bil,” he said.

       The number of people involved in this sector fell by 25,812 persons or -0.7% to 3.6 million persons from a year ago due to a decline in those employed in the information & communication and transportation & storage segment down by 11,297 persons or -2.4%.

       He said the wholesale & retail trade, food & beverages and accommodation segment saw a decline of 6,127 persons or -0.2%.

       Salaries and wages paid out in the services sector in 2Q21 rose by 0.4% or RM100.5mil to RM23.6bil on-year, though they declined from the 1Q21 and 4Q20.

       Performance of the services sector in 2Q 21.

       Wholesale and retail trade sub-sector in 2Q 2021.