A federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia, Malaysia imported US$189.6 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, down by -7.5% from $205 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Malaysia’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Malaysian imports during 2020 for each of Malaysia’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for about two-thirds (66.3%) of total Malaysian import purchases.

Malaysia shares land borders with Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand. The resulting geographic proximity provides Malaysia with advantages in international trade for shipping and receiving commodities.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Malaysian imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Malaysia’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Malaysia amounted to $40.8 billion or 21.5% of overall Malaysian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -3.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81% of Malaysia’s imports from mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $14.2 billion
Machinery: $6.6 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $2 billion
Plastics: $1.7 billion
Other chemical goods: $1.1 billion
Iron or steel products: $1 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $995.4 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $981.6 million
Vehicles: $946.7 million
Aluminum: $754.4 million
Iron and steel: $710 million
Organic chemicals: $666.4 million
Vegetables: $482.5 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $462.1 million
Paper: $449.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Malaysian imports from China under the other textiles including worn clothing product category via a 137.6% gain in revenue, furniture, lighting and signs (up 37.2%) then miscellaneous chemical goods (up 11.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Malaysia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -31.7%), iron and steel as materials (down -31.6%), vehicles (down -21.3%), aluminum (down -20.2%), paper (down -17.8%) and organic chemicals (down -10.8%).

Malaysia’s Main Imports from Singapore

In 2020, Singapore’s exports to Malaysia amounted to $17.5 billion or 9.3% of overall Malaysian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -18.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 92.9% of Malaysia’s imports from Singapore.

Electronic equipment: $6.4 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $4.2 billion
Machinery: $1.314 billion
Gems, precious metals: $1.307 billion
Plastics: $743.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $559.7 million
Organic chemicals: $435.1 million
Other chemical goods: $251.1 million
Clocks, watches: $236.8 million
Other food preparations: $234.6 million
Iron or steel products: $207.4 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $141.8 million
Copper: $121.6 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $93.2 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $92.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Malaysian imports from Singapore under the gems and precious metals product category via a 30.4% gain in revenue, soaps, lubricants and candles (up 14.1%) then cereal or milk preparations (up 10.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Malaysia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -41%), organic chemicals (down -23%), machinery (down -14.3%), medical or technical equipment (down -14.2%), plastics as a material (down -13.9%) and products made from iron or steel (down -13.1%).

Malaysia’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, United States’ exports to Malaysia amounted to $16.5 billion or 8.7% of overall Malaysian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -0.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.1% of Malaysia’s imports from America.

Electronic equipment: $7.1 billion
Machinery: $1.7 billion
Plastics: $1.15 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.09 billion
Aircraft, spacecraft: $651.9 million
Aluminum: $475.2 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $448.8 million
Other chemical goods: $329.3 million
Iron and steel: $320.1 million
Copper: $310.9 million
Oil seed: $251.7 million
Iron or steel products: $206.4 million
Pharmaceuticals: $190.4 million
Inorganic chemicals: $180 million
Other food preparations: $176.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Malaysian imports from the United States under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 131.1% gain in revenue, aluminum (up 58%), electronic equipment (up 12.1%), miscellaneous food preparations (up 10.9%) and products made from iron or steel (up 10.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Malaysia’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -30%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -29.5%), copper (down -18%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -16%), inorganic chemicals (down -14.7%) and machinery (down -13.7%).

Malaysia’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Malaysia amounted to $14.5 billion or 7.7% of overall Malaysian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -5.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 91.2% of Malaysia’s imports from Japan.

Electronic equipment: $5.2 billion
Machinery: $1.8 billion
Vehicles: $1.05 billion
Iron and steel: $1.02 billion
Plastics: $825.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $646.2 million
Gems, precious metals: $590.7 million
Copper: $467.2 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $355.6 million
Iron or steel products: $322.4 million
Other chemical goods: $245.8 million
Aluminum: $243.8 million
Rubber: $209.8 million
Organic chemicals: $203.8 million
Paper: $151.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Malaysian imports from Japan under the electronic equipment product category via a 14.8% gain in revenue then medical or technical equipment (up 14%).

Posting the severest declines among Malaysia’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -38.3%), mineral fuels including oil (down -34.7%), rubber (down -13.8%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -12.1%) and machinery (down -10.6%).

Malaysia’s Main Imports from Taiwan

In 2020, Taiwan’s exports to Malaysia amounted to $13.7 billion or 4.4% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -0.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.3% of Malaysia’s imports from Taiwan.

Electronic equipment: $10.3 billion
Machinery: $637.9 million
Iron and steel: $516.6 million
Plastics: $286 million
Medical, technical equipment: $258.5 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $229 million
Rubber: $215 million
Other chemical goods: $177.7 million
Organic chemicals: $140.3 million
Iron or steel products: $85.1 million
Paper: $82.6 million
Copper: $74.8 million
Inorganic chemicals: $74.7 million
Gems, precious metals: $61.1 million
Aluminum: $52.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Malaysian imports from Taiwan under the gems and precious metals product category via a 43.6% gain in revenue then medical or technical equipment (up 9.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Malaysia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -56%), organic chemicals (down -30.5%), plastics as a material (down -22%), iron and steel as materials (down -19.3%), copper (down -17.3%) and aluminum (down -16.4%).

Malaysia’s Main Imports from South Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to Malaysia amounted to $10.8 billion or 5.7% of overall Malaysian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 14.9% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 93.6% of Malaysia’s imports from South Korea.

Electronic equipment: $2.7 billion
Ships, boats: $2.4 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.5 billion
Iron and steel: $693.5 million
Machinery: $636.4 million
Rubber: $461.2 million
Plastics: $411.9 million
Inorganic chemicals: $279.4 million
Organic chemicals: $276.9 million
Paper: $153 million
Copper: $150.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $121.7 million
Vehicles: $105.8 million
Iron or steel products: $90.9 million
Other chemical goods: $89.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Malaysian imports from South Korea under the ships and boats product category via a 11,891% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 41.4%) and inorganic chemicals (up 26%).

Posting the severest declines among Malaysia’s top 15 imported products were copper (down -62.7%), products made from iron or steel (down -39.3%), machinery (down -27.2%), medical or technical equipment (down -25.2%), mineral fuels including oil (down -17.2%) and paper (down -13%).

Malaysia’s Main Imports from Indonesia

In 2020, Indonesia’s exports to Malaysia amounted to $8.7 billion or 4.6% of overall Malaysian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -7.0% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 80.7% of Malaysia’s imports from Indonesia.

Mineral fuels including oil: $2.3 billion
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $1.1 billion
Other chemical goods: $503.4 million
Electronic equipment: $454.8 million
Iron and steel: $424.8 million
Machinery: $326.5 million
Vehicles: $289 million
Copper: $282.6 million
Woodpulp: $254.8 million
Paper: $235.2 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $181.3 million
Fish: $170.7 million
Cocoa, cocoa preparations: $152.5 million
Other food preparations: $145.4 million
Rubber: $144.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Malaysian imports from Indonesia under the cereal or milk preparations product category via a 31% gain in revenue, animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 28.5%), woodpulp (up 27.2%), rubber (up 21.9%) and miscellaneous food preparations (up 14.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Malaysia’s top 15 imported products were copper (down -33.3%), iron and steel as materials (down -30.8%), paper (down -24.9%), machinery (down -24.6%), cocoa including cocoa preparations (down -12.5%) and fish (down -10.9%).

Malaysia’s Main Imports from Thailand

In 2020, Thailand’s exports to Malaysia amounted to $8.1 billion or 4.3% of overall Malaysian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -23.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81.1% of Malaysia’s imports from Thailand.

Electronic equipment: $1.7 billion
Rubber: $1.1 billion
Vehicles: $980.1 million
Machinery: $875 million
Plastics: $414 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $392.7 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $201 million
Organic chemicals: $155.8 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $148.3 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $139.2 million
Wood: $122.6 million
Medical, technical equipment: $113.5 million
Paper: $109.4 million
Other food preparations: $106.9 million
Other chemical goods: $91.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Malaysian imports from Thailand under the wood product category via a 57.6% gain in revenue and cereal or milk preparations (up 56.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Malaysia’s top 15 imported products were miscellaneous chemical goods (down -71.2%), organic chemicals (down -54.1%), machinery (down -42.6%), vehicles (down -35.5%), mineral fuels including oil (down -34.3%) and medical or technical equipment (down -19.8%).

Malaysia’s Main Imports from India

In 2020, India’s exports to Malaysia amounted to $5.9 billion or 3.1% of overall Malaysian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 1.1% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 82.3% of Malaysia’s imports from India.

Aluminum: $1.4 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.2 billion
Organic chemicals: $404.6 million
Meat: $398.4 million
Machinery: $217.3 million
Zinc: $197.4 million
Cereals: $164.4 million
Electronic equipment: $155.4 million
Sugar: $150 million
Iron and steel: $142.6 million
Coffee, tea, spices: $115.7 million
Ores, slag, ash: $98.5 million
Vegetables: $84.1 million
Pharmaceuticals: $84 million
Other chemical goods: $79.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Malaysian imports from India under the zinc product category via a 1,592% gain in revenue, sugar (up 237.8%), cereals (up 194.8%), aluminum (up 23.8%), pharmaceuticals (up 15.8%) and coffee, tea and spices (up 14%).

Posting the severest declines among Malaysia’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel (down -52.3%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -27.8%), organic chemicals (down -20.8%), electronic equipment (down -20.4%), ores, slag and ash (down -13.2%) then machinery (down -9.7%).

Malaysia’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Malaysia amounted to $5.5 billion or 2.9% of overall Malaysian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -14.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.4% of Malaysia’s imports from Germany.

Electronic equipment: $1.7 billion
Machinery: $1.1 billion
Vehicles: $635.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $463.2 million
Pharmaceuticals: $245.2 million
Plastics: $208.1 million
Iron or steel products: $129.9 million
Other chemical goods: $128.2 million
Organic chemicals: $86.3 million
Paper: $78.4 million
Inorganic chemicals: $49.1 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $47.5 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $45 million
Glass: $43.9 million
Gems, precious metals: $41.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Malaysian imports from Germany under the items made from iron or steel product category via a 53.9% gain in revenue and electronic equipment (up 5.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Malaysia’s top 15 imported products were miscellaneous chemical goods (down -42.1%), vehicles (down -38.2%), inorganic chemicals (down -28.4%), paper (down -18.9%), machinery (down -17.7%) and medical or technical equipment (down -13.5%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Malaysia, Borders of Malaysia

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Malaysia’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries