PETALING JAYA: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are expected to see “stronger and more defined” opportunities in Malaysia’s export environment this year.
This would particularly benefit SMEs that are prepared to respond to shifting global demand, according to MBSB Bank.
Quoting MBSB Research’s latest analysis, the bank said export growth remains a key driver of Malaysia’s economic momentum this year, even as global conditions stay uneven.
“For Malaysian SMEs, this presents an opportunity to participate more actively in cross border trade, provided they can align their capabilities, financing and market focus with where demand is emerging,” it said in a statement released following MBSB Bank’s Market and Export Outlook 2026 briefing yesterday.
Speaking at the briefing, Malaysia External Trade Development Corp senior director of strategic planning Raja Badrulnizam Raja Kamalzaman highlighted markets where demand for Malaysian products continues to hold.
The discussion centred on issues most relevant to SMEs, including market-access conditions, regulatory clarity, partner selection, and the importance of execution readiness when entering or expanding into overseas markets.
The briefing also addressed a key constraint facing many SMEs. While export opportunities exist, converting them into results is often constrained by limited market visibility, unfamiliar regulatory requirements, and execution risks.
MBSB outlined how it supports SMEs in moving from insight to action through Navigator Global, a trade platform developed with British bank Santander UK Plc that helps businesses assess overseas markets, understand entry requirements and plan export activity in a structured manner.
This integrated approach reflects MBSB’s objective to strengthen SME readiness for regional and global trade, aligning with national ambitions to increase SME participation in export growth and deepen integration into global supply chains.
Imran Yassin, head of MBSB Research, said that preparedness will be a key differentiator for exporters this year.
“Export growth will not be evenly distributed. SMEs that succeed will be those that focus on the right markets, understand the risks involved and prepare their operations accordingly,” Imran said.
