Malaysia Q3 GDP grows 5.3%, slows from Q2

Malaysia's economy expanded by 5.3% year-on-year in the third quarter, according to preliminary estimates released by the statistics department on Friday. However, this growth pace decelerated from the 6% increase observed in the previous quarter. The services sector steered the quarterly boost with a 5.4% rise, while manufacturing activity expanded by 7.5%, buoyed by export-oriented industries. Conversely, mining and quarrying contracted by 4.9% year-on-year, the department reported.

Notably, no sector recorded a decline during the July to September period. Earlier this year, the government revised upward its 2026 growth projections for the second time, projecting an expansion of close to 5% for the period. The government also anticipates annual economic growth to range between 4.2% and 5.2% in 2027. The final third-quarter GDP figures will be published on November 18. This report was AI-generated and subsequently reviewed by an editor.