The world's second-largest economy recorded one of its worst years in nearly half a century in 2022 due to strict Covid lockdowns and subsequent widespread infections.

The latest figures come as central bankers gear up for another round of interest rate increases to combat high inflation.

So-called 'is informed' letters allow the Commerce Department to bypass lengthy rule-writing processes to put controls in place quickly, but the letters only apply to the companies that receive them.

The amalgam of issues that Higashiosaka faces mirror the problems that have been chewing at the foundation of the world’s third-largest economy and its global exports, which hit US$610.54 billion last year.

Many retailers, including Walmart, have reported carrying excess inventory as soaring inflation forces consumers to spend more on low-margin food products instead of apparel and other general merchandise.

An increased supply of chips will reduce one burden facing an industry that is also battling raw material price inflation, a tight energy market and rising interest rates that are throwing a dampener on consumer demand.

The factory will be Samsung SDI's second in Malaysia, with the first making cylindrical batteries for electric vehicle customers.

Malaysia has not seen a significant return of migrant workers due to slow government approvals and protracted negotiations with Indonesia and Bangladesh over worker protections.

He also invoked the Defense Production Act to spur solar panel manufacturing in the US.

The manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of the total investments, attracting RM103.9 billion or 58.4%.

Countries where large outbreaks of the Delta variant receded saw an improvement in activity, such as Indonesia and India but factory activity shrank in Malaysia and Vietnam.

Factory suspensions and power blackouts have already affected at least 17 provinces in recent months – a situation further exacerbated by tight coal supply leading to sky-high prices.