{
  "id": 14864748,
  "title": "Malaysia's economy grows 5.3pct in Q3, advance estimate shows",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/malaysias-economy-grows-5-3pct-in-q3-advance-estimate-shows",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T04:07:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/economy/2026/10/1556674/malaysias-economy-grows-53pct-q3-advance-estimate-shows"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia's economy expanded by 5.3% in the third quarter of 2026, according to an advance estimate released by the Statistics Department. This figure was slightly higher than the 5.2% growth recorded in the same period last year. The growth rate decreased from 6% in the previous quarter, with all sectors contributing to the increase, except for mining and quarrying.\n\nThroughout the first nine months of 2026, the economy expanded by 5.5%, compared to 4.8% in the corresponding period in 2025. The services sector continued to drive the growth, expanding by 5.4%, fueled by wholesale and retail trade, information and communication, and finance and insurance activities. Manufacturing activity rose by 7.5%, up from 7.3% in the previous quarter, driven by export-oriented industries such as electrical, electronic, and optical products, as well as petroleum, chemicals, rubber, and plastics.\n\nConstruction growth slowed to 6% from 6.5% in the previous quarter, supported by non-residential projects, particularly data centers and specialized construction works. The agriculture sector rebounded by 1.3% after contracting by 3.7% in the previous quarter, driven by oil palm and livestock activities. Conversely, the mining and quarrying sector contracted by 4.9%, reversing the 9.2% expansion seen in the second quarter due to a decline in crude oil and condensate production.\n\nBank Negara Malaysia is expected to release the official third-quarter GDP figures on November 18.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown 5.3 per cent in the third quarter of 2026, slightly higher than the 5.2 per cent recorded a year earlier.",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysia's economy grew 5.3% in Q3 2026, higher than 5.2% in same period last year",
    "Services sector led growth, expanding 5.4% with wholesale, retail, and finance activities",
    "Mining and quarrying sector contracted 4.9%, reversing 9.2% expansion from Q2"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The steady expansion of the services and manufacturing sectors offsets a decline in mining, signaling a broader economic resilience driven by export-oriented industries and digital infrastructure development.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Malaysia's economy grows 5.3% year-on-year in Q3: Advance estimate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/malaysias-economy-grows-5-3-year-on-year-in-q3-advance-estimate",
        "published": "2026-10-16T04:06:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Malaysia’s economy grows 5.3pc in third quarter, slower than previous quarter",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/malaysias-economy-grows-5-3pc-in-third-quarter-slower-than-previous",
        "published": "2026-10-16T04:33:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}