KUALA LUMPUR: Industrial output in May is expected to have strengthened on the back of improving external demand said economists.

The Industrial Production Index (IPI) is expected to grow by 4.36 per cent in May versus a year ago according to a poll by the Business Times.

The Statistics Department will release the data today.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch said manufacturing production likely gained in May while the pace of growth in the mining output probably slowed.