Country profile
Malaysia
A major hub for semiconductor assembly and testing, electronics, LNG and palm oil.
Updated 11 November 2026. Sources at the bottom of the page.
- Capital
- Kuala Lumpur
- Population
- 34.2 million (2026)
- Currency
- Malaysian ringgit (MYR)
- GDP, 2026
- US$547 billion
- Exports, 2025
- US$375.8 billion
- Exchange rate
- 1 USD = 4.06 MYR (10 Nov 2026)
Economy
IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026. 2026 and 2027 are IMF projections.
5.2%Real GDP growth, 2026
4.6%Real GDP growth, 2027
2.2%Inflation, 2026
3%Unemployment, 2026
69.2% of GDPGovernment debt, 2026
2.1% of GDPCurrent account, 2026
Compare Malaysia with other countries →
Trade
Top export markets
Share of the country’s exports, 2025
- Singapore (15.5%)
- United States (14.5%)
- China (11.8%)
- Hong Kong (6%)
- Taiwan (5.5%)
Main exports
Product groups, share of exports
- Electrical machinery and equipment, including chips (40.3%)
- Mineral fuels, including LNG (11.1%)
- Machinery, including computers (11%)
- Animal and vegetable fats, mainly palm oil (5.7%)
- Optical, technical and medical apparatus (4.8%)
Main trade agreements
- ASEAN Free Trade Area
- Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
- ASEAN agreements with China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand
Trade policy to watch
- Semiconductors: Malaysia handles a large share of global chip assembly, packaging and testing, centred on Penang.
- AI chip controls: since July 2025, exports and transshipment of US-origin high-performance AI chips from Malaysia need a strategic trade permit.
- China+1: companies are moving or adding production in Malaysia to diversify from China.
Energy
Natural gas and coal produce most of Malaysia's electricity, with some hydropower. Malaysia is a large LNG exporter, and solar is growing.
What it means for your supply chain
- Map which chips and electronic modules in your products pass through Malaysian assembly and test plants.
- Check rules of origin carefully; products with Chinese inputs may be treated differently in some markets.
- Palm oil products may need EU deforestation-regulation due diligence.
Malaysia in the Supplier Hub
4 companies in the Supplier Hub are listed under Malaysia.
Sources
- IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026: GDP, growth, inflation, unemployment, government debt, current account (2026 and 2027 are projections; updated automatically).
- IMF, World Economic Outlook database: population (2026 estimate).
- World’s Top Exports: export markets (shares as listed by the source; year not stated) and main exports.
- Bank of Canada, daily exchange rates (cross rates calculated from CAD rates; updated daily).
- Energy Institute, Statistical Review of World Energy 2026: energy profile.
Figures are the latest published at the time of the update and may since have been revised. This page is for general information, not investment or legal advice.