Malaysia-China Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023
Complete trade statistics: $123.99B total volume •Malaysia deficit: $14.24B
Malaysia → China
$54.88B
Exports (2023)
China → Malaysia
$69.11B
Imports (2023)
Trade Balance
$14.24B
Deficit for Malaysia
Total Trade
$123.99B
Combined Volume
Trade Flow Visualization
Direct trade relationship between Malaysia and China. Green line shows exports from Malaysia, red line shows imports.
Detailed Product Trade Analysis
Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Malaysia-China commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.
Malaysia → China Exports
Export Market Intelligence
🎯 Strategic Export Focus
Malaysia's export portfolio to China demonstrates strong diversification across multiple sectors, with electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.
China → Malaysia Imports
Import Dependency Profile
📦 Import Strategy Analysis
Malaysia's import pattern from China reveals strategic sourcingin petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.
Competitive Trade Position Analysis
Market Leadership
Malaysia demonstrates competitive strength in exportingelectronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits to China, leveraging comparative advantages.
Trade Complementarity
The bilateral relationship showsstrongcomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.
Growth Potential
The $123.99B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.
Executive Summary: Malaysia-China Trade Relationship
Key Trade Highlights 2023
- Total Trade Volume: $123.99 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
- Trade Balance: Malaysia maintains a deficit of $14.24 billion
- Export Focus: Malaysia's primary exports include electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits, oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude, petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas
- Import Dependencies: Key imports from China include petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils, electronic integrated circuits: memories, electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits
Strategic Trade Indicators
📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents one of the world's largest trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.
Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context
Trade Evolution Timeline
2019-2023: Recent Trends
Current trade volume of $123.99B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.
2015-2019: Growth Period
Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Malaysia leveraging its comparative advantages in electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits.
2010-2015: Foundation Building
Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.
Pre-2010: Early Development
Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.
Key Economic Drivers
Comparative Advantage
Malaysia's specialization in electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuitscomplements China's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.
Supply Chain Integration
Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils.
Market Access & Trade Policy
Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $123.99B bilateral relationship.
Trade Pattern Insights
Trade Relationship Outlook
The $123.99B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.
Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook
Economic Impact Assessment
Trade Volume Impact
The $123.99 billion bilateral trade volume represents a major economic driverfor both economies.
Industrial Integration
Trade flows in electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits and petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.
Trade Balance Effects
Malaysia's trade deficit of $14.24 billion impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.
Strategic Future Outlook
🚀Growth Opportunities
⚠️Risk Factors
🎯Strategic Recommendations
- Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
- Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
- Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
- Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs
Market Position & Competitive Summary
The bilateral trade relationship between Malaysia and China represents a total trade volume of $123.99 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Malaysia, with imports exceeding exportsby $14.24 billion.
Export Strengths
Malaysia's exports to China total $54.88 billion, with competitive advantages in electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits, representing $9.98B or18.2% of bilateral exports.
Import Dependencies
Imports from China amount to $69.11 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils, with Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils comprising6.1% of total imports.
The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Malaysia's strategic sourcing from China. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.
Download Bilateral Trade Data
Access detailed trade data between Malaysia and China in multiple formats.
Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023