KUALA LUMPUR (REUTERS) - Malaysia's August industrial production rose 3.0 per cent from a year ago, buoyed by higher manufacturing and mining output, but was below market expectations, data from the Statistics Department showed on Monday (Oct 12).

The median forecast from a Reuters survey of economists had been for annual industrial output to grow 4.0 per cent.

Output in July was up 6.1 per cent, well above predictions, due to manufacturing and mining sector growth.

August export data earlier this month was better than forecast. Exports 4.1 per cent from a year earlier on higher shipments to Singapore, China and the United States.

Malaysia's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index for September, however, contracted for a sixth consecutive month on weaker domestic market conditions.