Bilateral trade rises nearly 40%
According to data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Malaysia reached USD 8.79 billion in the first five months of 2026, up 39.4% compared to the same period in 2025. Vietnam’s exports to Malaysia totaled USD 2.71 billion, an increase of 25.8%, while imports from Malaysia surged to USD 6.08 billion, up 46.4%.
A key driver of Vietnam’s export growth to Malaysia was the manufacturing and processing sector, which continued to account for the largest share of exports while recording robust expansion. Computers, electronic products and components remained the leading export category, generating USD 532.7 million in export revenue, up 45.2% year-on-year and accounting for nearly 20% of Vietnam’s total exports to Malaysia.
Machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts ranked second with export turnover of nearly USD 271 million, up 52.1%. Exports of phones and components reached more than USD 230 million, an increase of 29.9%, while iron and steel products generated nearly USD 210 million, up 16%.
Notably, several export categories posted exceptionally strong growth, highlighting the expanding market presence of Vietnamese enterprises in Malaysia. Exports of chemical products rose by 89%, seafood increased by 27.3%, textiles and garments by 17%, animal feed and feed ingredients by 12.1%, and rubber by 23%.
These figures underscore the growing ability of Vietnamese products to meet the demands of the Malaysian market, particularly in supporting industries, food products and consumer goods.
However, several traditional export items recorded declines, including coffee, down 18.7%; rice, down 4.1%; and vehicles and spare parts, down 3.2%. This trend reflects intensifying competition in the Malaysian market, as well as shifts in consumer demand and the country’s import structure.
On the import side, purchases from Malaysia continued to grow strongly, mainly concentrated in raw materials and production inputs serving Vietnam’s industrial sector. Computers, electronic products and components remained the largest import category, with turnover reaching nearly USD 2 billion, up 40.3% year-on-year and accounting for 32.7% of total imports from Malaysia.
Most notably, petroleum imports from Malaysia recorded an extraordinary increase, reaching more than USD 1.06 billion, up 213.2% compared to the same period last year and accounting for 17.5% of total imports. This surge reflects rising domestic energy demand as well as recent fluctuations in global energy markets.
Meanwhile, imports of machinery, equipment and spare parts reached nearly USD 638 million, an increase of 86.3%, indicating expanding manufacturing investment and growing demand for technological upgrades among Vietnamese enterprises.
Positive prospects for bilateral trade cooperation
The current trade structure highlights the highly complementary nature of economic relations between the two countries. Vietnam exports processed goods, electronics, food products and consumer goods to Malaysia, while importing raw materials, fuel products and industrial components to support domestic production.
The outlook for bilateral trade cooperation remains positive. Malaysia’s economy continues to maintain stable growth, with total trade reaching a record RM1.455 trillion during the first five months of the year, up 18.3% from the same period in 2025.
Rising household incomes, coupled with the rapid expansion of modern retail chains such as AEON, Lotus’s, Mydin, Econsave and Jaya Grocer, are creating additional opportunities for Vietnamese products to strengthen their presence in the Malaysian market.
In particular, Vietnam’s competitive products, including processed foods, seafood, tropical fruits, coffee, cashew nuts, Halal-certified products and fast-moving consumer goods continue to receive positive responses from Malaysian consumers.
 
Source: ven.congthuong.vn/vietnam-malaysia-trade-posts-strong-growth-in-the-five-months-of-2026-59415.html