According to trade data, Vietnamese exports to Malaysia climbed 45.8 percent to $5.01 billion, while imports rose 42.3 percent to $10.26 billion. As a result, the trade deficit expanded 39.1 percent year-on-year to $5.25 billion.
From Malaysia’s perspective, Vietnam continues to serve as one of its most critical trading partners within ASEAN.
Vietnam’s export basket to Malaysia reflects a steady structural shift toward manufactured and processed industrial goods. Computers, electronic products, and components formed the largest category, accounting for 29.2 percent of total shipments.
Several product categories posted strong double-digit growth in the eight-month period, including mobile phones and parts (up 25.3 percent), iron and steel (21.2 percent), textiles (20.7 percent), seafood (19.6 percent), and animal feed (13.8 percent). Conversely, shipments of transport vehicles fell 23.1 percent, coffee dropped 25.8 percent, and rice dipped 8.2 percent.
Mr. Phung Van Thanh, Commercial Counselor at the Vietnamese Trade Office in Malaysia, noted that Malaysia retains substantial growth potential for competitive Vietnamese products, including processed foods, tropical produce, high-quality rice, Halal goods, beverages, fast-moving consumer goods, and electronics. Consumer preferences in Malaysia are increasingly tilting toward green, health-conscious, and fully traceable products.
To convert this market potential into sustained export growth, Mr. Thanh advises Vietnamese firms to engage in direct trade promotion, deepen ties with major local retail networks like AEON, Lotus’s, Mydin, Econsave, and Jaya Grocer, and strictly adhere to Halal certifications, technical standards, and traceability rules. Leveraging regional trade commitments under ASEAN, the CPTPP, and the RCEP will also enhance product competitiveness.
Institutional promotion efforts are already yielding tangible outcomes. At the Malaysia International Halal Showcase 2026 (MIHAS 2026), the Vietnamese Trade Office hosted a dedicated pavilion featuring certified Halal and Muslim-friendly products. Over the four-day event, the showcase welcomed hundreds of prospective buyers and facilitated multiple memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between domestic suppliers and foreign partners.
Looking ahead, the Trade Office is preparing to participate in the 6th Selangor Industrial Park and Investment Exhibition from October 14-17.
“The exhibition will present an excellent opportunity for local authorities, enterprises, investors, and industrial park developers to introduce Vietnam’s investment climate and local incentive policies, helping connect with partners from Malaysia and other participating nations,” Mr. Thanh emphasized.
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