FX.co ★ Malaysia Imports Beat Expectations

Malaysia’s imports surged 41.1% year-on-year to MYR 163 billion in August 2026, beating market expectations of 33.3% and accelerating from July’s 36.4%. This was the twelfth straight month of annual growth, highlighting the continued strength of domestic demand.

The expansion was driven mainly by the manufacturing sector, where imports climbed 43.2%. Within manufacturing, the sharpest increases were recorded in electrical and electronic products (89.3%), followed by machinery, equipment and parts (22%), and petroleum products (26.6%). Imports for the mining sector also rose markedly, up 60.1%, supported by an 87% jump in crude petroleum purchases.

In contrast, imports fell in agriculture (-2.9%) and in other sectors (-5.9%).

By trading partner, the strongest import growth was recorded from Taiwan (68.9%), followed by China (61.3%), Singapore (59.1%), and the United States (3.2%).

Over the January–August period, total imports reached MYR 1,157.6 billion, up from MYR 946.1 billion in the same period a year earlier.