Malaysia's Economy Grows 6.0 Pct In 2Q 2026, Beating DOSM's Advance Estimates -- BNM
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's economy expanded by 6.0 per cent in the second quarter of 2026 (2Q 2026), surpassing the Department of Statistics Malaysia's (DOSM) advance estimate of 5.8 per cent, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
The central bank said the growth was driven by continued domestic demand and robust exports.
“Household spending was supported by steady income growth and ongoing policy support, while investment growth was underpinned by continued spending on structures and machinery and equipment,” BNM said in a statement today.
The 2Q 2026 performance exceeded the 5.4 per cent growth registered in 1Q 2026.
The central bank said on the external front, export growth had accelerated, driven mainly by the continued strength in electrical and electronics (E&E) products and sustained expansion in services, as well as the rebound in exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and non-E&E manufacturing products.
“Gross imports expanded further, amid robust growth in intermediate and consumer goods imports,” it said.
On the supply side, BNM said growth was underpinned by the expansion in the services and manufacturing sectors.
“The higher growth in the services sector was supported by business-related subsectors, especially the information and communication technology (ICT) subsector, with the expanding operationalisation of data centres,” it said.
Meanwhile, the robust growth in the manufacturing sector was driven by export-oriented clusters, particularly in E&E, following strong artificial intelligence (AI)-related demand.
The mining and quarrying sector growth also turned positive, reflecting stronger natural gas production.
On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the economy expanded by 2.5 per cent from -0.03 per cent in 1Q 2026.
BNM governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said the Malaysian economy remains on a firm footing.
He said growth in 2026 is projected to remain within the forecast range of 4.0-5.0 per cent, with recent developments indicating that overall growth could be around 5.0 per cent.
“While the outlook continues to be shaped by external developments, Malaysia is well-positioned to navigate these challenges from a position of strength and policy readiness,” he said.
On the domestic front, he said household spending will benefit from continued income growth as well as ongoing policy measures.
Investment activity will be driven by the progress of multi-year projects in the private and public sectors, continued high realisation of approved investments, as well as the ongoing implementation of national master plans, said Abdul Rasheed.
“On the external front, export growth will be underpinned by sustained demand for E&E products amid growing investment in AI-related activities and global technology expansion.
“Additional support is expected from the rebound in non-E&E exports, alongside sustained tourist spending and expansion in ICT services exports,” he added.
-- BERNAMA