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Malaysia trade in 2024

In 2024, Malaysia exported $409.7 billion and imported $300.1 billion, a trade surplus of $109.6 billion. It was the world's 14th-largest exporter, with 1.8% of world exports. Its top export was microchips (20.2% of the total) and its main trading partner was China (22.2% of its trade).

Summary

Exports
$409.7billion
Imports
$300.1billion
Trade balance
+$109.6billion
Routes to the main partners. Width: trade value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand
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Products

What it exports

Microchips (20.2%) and refined petroleum (8.7%) together make up 28.9% of its exports.

  1. Microchips$82.7 billion · 20.2%
    Main partner: China
  2. Refined petroleum$35.7 billion · 8.7%
    Main partner: Singapore
  3. Crude petroleum$34.1 billion · 8.3%
    Main partner: China
  4. Natural gas and LPG$17.2 billion · 4.2%
    Main partner: Japan
  5. Palm oil$14.6 billion · 3.6%
    Main partner: India
  6. Cameras and broadcast equipment$11.7 billion · 2.9%
    Main partner: United States
  7. Diodes, transistors and solar cells$11.6 billion · 2.8%
    Main partner: United States
  8. Computer and office machine parts$11.4 billion · 2.8%
    Main partner: United States
  9. Computers$9.6 billion · 2.4%
    Main partner: Singapore
  10. Other industrial machines$9.4 billion · 2.3%
    Main partner: Singapore

What it imports

Microchips (16.4%) and refined petroleum (8.5%) together make up 24.9% of its imports.

  1. Microchips$49.1 billion · 16.4%
    Main partner: Taiwan
  2. Refined petroleum$25.6 billion · 8.5%
    Main partner: Singapore
  3. Crude petroleum$14.6 billion · 4.9%
    Main partner: Saudi Arabia
  4. Computers$8.5 billion · 2.8%
    Main partner: China
  5. Other industrial machines$5.9 billion · 2%
    Main partner: United States
  6. Cameras and broadcast equipment$5.9 billion · 2%
    Main partner: China
  7. Computer and office machine parts$5.3 billion · 1.8%
    Main partner: Taiwan
  8. Coal$4.6 billion · 1.5%
    Main partner: Indonesia
  9. Auto parts$4.3 billion · 1.4%
    Main partner: Thailand
  10. Gold$4 billion · 1.3%
    Main partner: Singapore
By Harmonized System chapter (96)
ChapterExportsImports
85 · Electrical and electronic equipment$142.9 billion$81.3 billion
27 · Oil, gas and coal$87.9 billion$49.6 billion
84 · Mechanical machinery$45.3 billion$38 billion
15 · Fats and oils$22.5 billion$3.6 billion
90 · Precision and medical instruments$18.3 billion$7.3 billion
39 · Plastics$9.3 billion$9.8 billion
40 · Rubber$7.1 billion$4 billion
76 · Aluminum$6.8 billion$5.5 billion
72 · Iron and steel$6.5 billion$5.9 billion
29 · Organic chemicals$5.4 billion$4.7 billion
74 · Copper$4 billion$4.7 billion
71 · Gems and precious metals$3.8 billion$6.8 billion
94 · Furniture and lighting$3.7 billion$2.1 billion
38 · Miscellaneous chemicals$2.8 billion$2.8 billion
18 · Cocoa and chocolate$2.8 billion$3.7 billion
73 · Iron and steel products$2.6 billion$4.6 billion
44 · Wood$2.5 billion$1.1 billion
48 · Paper and paperboard$2.2 billion$2.1 billion
87 · Vehicles$2.1 billion$8.4 billion
19 · Baked goods and cereal products$1.9 billion$1.1 billion
21 · Food preparations$1.9 billion$1.6 billion
26 · Ores and slag$1.7 billion$3.5 billion
70 · Glass$1.5 billion$710 million
28 · Inorganic chemicals$1.5 billion$3.3 billion
32 · Dyes, paints and tanning agents$1.5 billion$884 million
34 · Soap and cleaning products$1.2 billion$811 million
88 · Aircraft and spacecraft$1.1 billion$3.8 billion
68 · Stone, plaster and cement articles$1 billion$414 million
95 · Toys and sports gear$953 million$867 million
23 · Animal feed and food waste$916 million$1.3 billion
31 · Fertilizers$875 million$1.2 billion
61 · Knitted clothing$818 million$1.9 billion
89 · Ships and boats$723 million$1.2 billion
04 · Dairy, eggs and honey$671 million$1.2 billion
25 · Salt, stone and cement$641 million$599 million
80 · Tin$615 million$159 million
03 · Fish and seafood$599 million$999 million
30 · Pharmaceuticals$553 million$2.3 billion
47 · Wood pulp$539 million$1.1 billion
22 · Beverages and spirits$488 million$630 million
83 · Miscellaneous metal goods$457 million$802 million
33 · Perfumes and cosmetics$445 million$1.5 billion
16 · Prepared meat and fish$442 million$341 million
49 · Books and printed matter$441 million$209 million
60 · Knitted fabric$438 million$253 million
08 · Fruit and nuts$414 million$1 billion
78 · Lead$405 million$229 million
96 · Other manufactured goods$340 million$334 million
69 · Ceramics$338 million$770 million
17 · Sugar and sweets$335 million$1.5 billion
91 · Watches and clocks$330 million$688 million
07 · Vegetables$325 million$1.3 billion
54 · Synthetic filaments$309 million$335 million
52 · Cotton$307 million$417 million
55 · Synthetic staple fibers$307 million$238 million
62 · Woven clothing$246 million$1.2 billion
01 · Live animals$242 million$82 million
20 · Preserved fruit and vegetables$241 million$542 million
92 · Musical instruments$219 million$74 million
09 · Coffee, tea and spices$204 million$868 million
35 · Glues, starches and enzymes$195 million$395 million
56 · Felt, nonwovens and rope$185 million$239 million
79 · Zinc$175 million$278 million
86 · Railway equipment$163 million$183 million
63 · Home textiles and used clothing$161 million$693 million
75 · Nickel$158 million$604 million
82 · Tools and cutlery$156 million$694 million
37 · Photographic goods$149 million$125 million
06 · Live plants and flowers$143 million$31 million
14 · Other plant products$141 million$5 million
59 · Coated and technical textiles$131 million$262 million
64 · Footwear$127 million$839 million
81 · Other base metals$115 million$268 million
11 · Milling products and malt$100 million$531 million
42 · Leather goods and bags$94 million$1.1 billion
24 · Tobacco$86 million$183 million
65 · Hats$83 million$81 million
12 · Oilseeds and grains$51 million$603 million
02 · Meat and offal$50 million$1.6 billion
36 · Explosives and matches$30 million$57 million
41 · Hides and leather$29 million$71 million
58 · Special fabrics and lace$19 million$84 million
57 · Carpets and rugs$14 million$125 million
10 · Cereals$14 million$2.7 billion
13 · Gums and plant extracts$13 million$82 million
05 · Other animal products$9 million$28 million
93 · Weapons and ammunition$6 million$78 million
97 · Art and antiques$5 million$55 million
51 · Wool$4 million$6 million
66 · Umbrellas and canes$4 million$14 million
67 · Feathers and artificial flowers$3 million$57 million
53 · Other plant fibers$3 million$5 million
43 · Fur and fur goods$2 million$8 million
46 · Wicker and basketware$2 million$7 million
45 · Cork$1 million$2 million
50 · Silk$809 thousand$3 million

Trading partners

China is its main destination (21.3% of exports) and source (23.3% of imports).

Who it sells to

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
China87.321.3%Sea
Singapore51.612.6%Air
United States51.412.6%Air
Hong Kong21.15.2%Air
Japan19.64.8%Sea
Taiwan14.43.5%Air
Thailand13.63.3%Land
South Korea12.63.1%Sea
India12.13%Sea
Vietnam11.82.9%Sea

Who it buys from

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
China7023.3%Sea
Singapore3511.7%Sea
United States26.78.9%Air
Taiwan19.36.4%Air
Japan14.85%Sea
Indonesia13.64.5%Land
Thailand134.3%Land
South Korea11.94%Sea
Saudi Arabia8.22.7%Sea
India82.7%Sea

Overview 1995–2024

In 2024, Malaysia accounted for 1.8% of world exports, compared with 1.7% in 1995.

Exports and imports

Exports grew 5-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). Bars: trade balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 410
  • Imports 300
  • Balance +110

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$86 billion$76.5 billion$9.5 billion
1996$93.9 billion$75.2 billion$18.8 billion
1997$97 billion$79.8 billion$17.2 billion
1998$88.4 billion$57.4 billion$31 billion
1999$97 billion$64.6 billion$32.3 billion
2000$118.5 billion$78.7 billion$39.8 billion
2001$109.1 billion$71.8 billion$37.4 billion
2002$115.2 billion$76.3 billion$38.9 billion
2003$133.1 billion$80.1 billion$53 billion
2004$153.6 billion$101.4 billion$52.2 billion
2005$170.5 billion$110.2 billion$60.3 billion
2006$189.8 billion$124.7 billion$65.1 billion
2007$227.2 billion$138.3 billion$88.9 billion
2008$248.8 billion$151.2 billion$97.6 billion
2009$198.2 billion$128.5 billion$69.8 billion
2010$259.8 billion$164.9 billion$95 billion
2011$294.2 billion$190.7 billion$103.5 billion
2012$273.4 billion$199.1 billion$74.3 billion
2013$288.8 billion$211.1 billion$77.7 billion
2014$296.6 billion$213 billion$83.7 billion
2015$267.1 billion$184.2 billion$82.9 billion
2016$257 billion$174.5 billion$82.5 billion
2017$291.4 billion$207.5 billion$83.9 billion
2018$328.9 billion$223.8 billion$105.2 billion
2019$324.7 billion$211.3 billion$113.4 billion
2020$316.5 billion$196.6 billion$119.9 billion
2021$377.1 billion$240.4 billion$136.7 billion
2022$435.8 billion$287.8 billion$148.1 billion
2023$386.3 billion$269.6 billion$116.7 billion
2024$409.7 billion$300.1 billion$109.6 billion

World rank

Malaysia rose from 16th to 14th among the world's exporters

Rank among 222 countries by export value (1st at the top).

  • 16th in 1995
  • 14th in 2024

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearRank
199516th
199616th
199716th
199817th
199915th
200014th
200115th
200215th
200316th
200416th
200516th
200617th
200717th
200817th
200916th
201015th
201118th
201221st
201319th
201419th
201518th
201618th
201719th
201817th
201916th
202016th
202117th
202217th
202320th
202414th

What it sells

Its top export group is still electrical and electronic equipment: 35% in 2024

% of exports by Harmonized System chapter.

  • Other 17%
  • Aluminum 2%
  • Rubber 2%
  • Plastics 2%
  • Precision and medical instruments 4%
  • Fats and oils 5%
  • Mechanical machinery 11%
  • Oil, gas and coal 21%
  • Electrical and electronic equipment 35%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Chapter19952024
Electrical and electronic equipment39.9%34.9%
Oil, gas and coal6.3%21.5%
Mechanical machinery14%11.1%
Fats and oils6.2%5.5%
Precision and medical instruments1.4%4.5%
Plastics1.4%2.3%
Rubber4%1.7%
Aluminum0.39%1.7%
Other26.4%17%

Who it trades with

China went from 3% to 22% of Malaysia's trade

% of total trade (exports + imports) with each partner.

  • China 22%
  • Singapore 12%
  • United States 11%
  • Japan 5%
  • Taiwan 5%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
China2.7%22.2%
Singapore18.1%12.2%
United States18.9%11%
Japan17.9%4.9%
Taiwan3.8%4.8%

Production hubs

Largest industrial emission sources (Climate TRACE, 2025)

  • Malay basinOil and gas · 24.7 Mt CO₂e
  • Manjung power stationPower · 22.6 Mt CO₂e
  • Tanjung Bin power stationPower · 17.7 Mt CO₂e
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Largest economic production hubs (gridded GDP, 2024)

  • Kuala Lumpur$592.6 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • George Town$99.9 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Malacca$51.8 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
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Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Ranks are computed among the countries with data each year. Services are not included. Data up to 2024.

Neighboring countries

Main partners

See all countries