PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s services sector has recorded its first trade surplus in 14 years, reaching an all-time high total services trade of RM543.01bil in 2025.
The performance is an indication of the nation’s successful transition into a high-value, services-driven economy, said the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade)
Exports expanded by 12% to hit a historic RM272.08bil, surpassing imports, which grew by 6.4% to RM270.93bil.
As a result, the overall trade surplus amounted to a record RM1.15bil, underpinned by strong performance in travel and manufacturing services, Matrade said.
Export growth was strengthened by a surge in travel, as well as robust gains in other business services, telecommunications, computer and information services, transport, and maintenance and repair services.
Travel grew 16% to reach RM110.59bil, propelled by a record 42.2 million international arrivals in comparison to 2024.
Meanwhile, telecommunications, computer and information services grew by 27.1% to RM27.13bil on the back of the nation’s flourishing data centre ecosystem.
Other business services, buoyed by increasing demand for professional, managerial and consultancy services, rose by 14.1% to RM48.66bil. Maintenance and repair services surged by 34.2% to RM7.67bil, highlighting the nation’s deepening involvement in regional and global supply chains and rising demand for cross-border technical servicing activities.
Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, chairman of Matrade, said the 2025 services trade performance was a “watershed moment for Malaysia”.
“We remain committed to sustaining this momentum by enhancing our export promotion initiatives across both major and emerging markets, in line with our diversification strategies to ensure sustainable growth for Malaysian exporters,” he added.
Malaysia recorded a landmark trade performance in 2025, with total merchandise trade exceeding RM3 trillion for the first time in history, according to Matrade.
The nation’s total services also crossed the RM500bil mark for the first time, its RM543.01bil total representing a 9.2% increase compared to 2024.
Matrade’s chief executive officer, Abu Bakar Yusof, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to facilitating and expanding Malaysia’s exports and growing its international visibility and exposure into tangible market access.
“Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to empowering Malaysian service providers including micro, small and medium enterprises to scale globally under our 2026 roadmap,” he said.
