Malaysia's Economy Grows 5.3% in Third Quarter on Manufacturing and Data Centre Strength
Malaysia's economy grew 5.3% from a year earlier in the third quarter, according to advance estimates released by the statistics department on October 16, slowing from the 6.0% expansion recorded in the second quarter.
Growth was recorded across all sectors except mining and quarrying, which contracted 4.9%. Services rose 5.4%, manufacturing grew 7.5% on the strength of export-oriented industries, and construction expanded 6.0%, supported in part by a wave of data centre development. Malaysia has become a regional data centre hub as the global boom in super intelligence infrastructure lifts demand for its technology products and semiconductors.
The government last week raised its 2026 growth projection for the second time this year, expecting the economy to expand close to the upper end of a 4.8% to 5.3% forecast range, and estimates growth of between 4.2% and 5.2% in 2027. The central bank has kept its policy rate at 2.75% since a cut in May last year. Final third-quarter GDP figures are due on November 18.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：吉隆坡双子塔夜景。图片来源：Marek Ślusarczyk（Tupungato），CC BY 3.0。Photo: The Petronas Towers at night in Kuala Lumpur. Image: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato), CC BY 3.0.
