Gross output value for Malaysia's petroleum and natural gas mining industry increased 0.2 percent to 109.4 billion Malaysian ringgit (34.19 billion U.S. dollars) in 2012, compared to 109.2 billion ringgit (39.13 billion U.S. dollars) in 2011, according to latest official statistics.

The Department Of Statistics said in its Petroleum and Natural Gas Statistics 2013 Thursday that based on the difference of value of gross output and intermediate input, the value added increased by 1.3 billion ringgit (41 million U.S. dollars), or 1.5 percent.

For 2012, the department said that the industry's total employment registered an increase of 1,711 employees or 12.9 percent to 15,015 employees, compared to 13,304 employees in 2011.

"The share of the petroleum and natural gas mining industry in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012 was 8.3 percent, while the comparative figure in 2011 was 8.7 percent," it added.