Two-way investment brief

Australia–Malaysia

At the end of 2025, investors from Malaysia held A$14.4 bn of direct investment in Australia, making it Australia’s 13th-largest source of foreign direct investment (1.1% of the total). That stock rose 1.4% over the year and has grown 2.9% a year on average over the past decade. Australian direct investment in Malaysia was A$4.7 bn — the 11th-largest destination for Australian direct investment abroad. The relationship is weighted towards Malaysia investing in Australia (3.1× Australia’s direct investment there). Malaysia was Australia’s 9th-largest two-way trading partner in 2025 (goods and services, A$34.8 bn; 2.7% of Australia’s trade). Globally, Malaysia was the world’s 24th-largest source of FDI outflows in 2024 ($13.0 bn, World Bank).

Data (CSV)Malaysia global profile

Malaysia direct investment in Australia

A$14.4 bn

+1.4%vs 202413th largest

Total Malaysia investment in Australia

A$25.9 bn

21st largest · 0.5%

Australian direct investment in Malaysia

A$4.7 bn

+3.3%vs 202411th largest destination

Total Australian investment in Malaysia

A$8.3 bn

Levels at 31 Dec 2025

Trend

Direct investment in both directions

Direct investment levels, Australia–Malaysia

Malaysia in Australia
Australia in Malaysia

Source: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (5352.0).

Malaysia’s investment in Australia by type

Direct investment
Portfolio investment
Other investment

Source: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (5352.0).

Annual direct investment flows

Net transactions during the year; negative = net disinvestment

Malaysia → Australia
Australia → Malaysia

Source: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (5352.0).

Trade relationship

Australia–Malaysia trade

Investment and trade move together: the partners that invest most in Australia are usually major trading partners too. Goods trade is recorded monthly (latest: July 2026); services annually.

Two-way trade, 2025

A$34.8 bn

9th largest partner · 2.7%

Goods exports to Malaysia, 2025

A$11.2 bn

12 months to July 2026: A$11.3 bn

Goods imports from Malaysia, 2025

A$18.5 bn

12 months to July 2026: A$20.8 bn

Services trade, 2025

A$5.1 bn

Exports A$2.2 bn · imports A$2.9 bn

Goods trade

Calendar years, A$ (ABS merchandise trade)

Exports to Malaysia
Imports from Malaysia

Source: ABS, International Merchandise Trade (MERCH_EXP / MERCH_IMP), summed to calendar years.

Services trade

Calendar years, A$ (ABS international trade in services by country)

Exports to Malaysia
Imports from Malaysia

Source: ABS, International Trade in Services by Country, calendar years.

Economic outlook

Malaysia’s economy

IMF World Economic Outlook	2024	2025	2026forecast	2027forecast	2028forecast
Real GDP growth	5.1%	5.2%	4.7%	4.3%	4.3%
Inflation	1.8%	1.4%	1.9%	2.0%	2.0%
Unemployment rate	3.2%	3.0%	3.0%	3.0%	3.0%
Current account, % GDP	1.4%	1.6%	1.4%	1.6%	1.8%
Fiscal balance, % GDP	−3.4%	−3.5%	−3.3%	−3.0%	−2.7%
Government gross debt, % GDP	69.8%	70.7%	69.5%	68.7%	67.8%

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook via the IMF DataMapper API. Years from 2026 are IMF projections; recent years may be estimates and are revised in each WEO round (April and October).

2025 at a glance

New FDI from Malaysia: A$735 m
New Australian FDI in Malaysia: A$130 m
Direct investment income paid to investors: A$1.0 bn
Direct investment income earned by Australians: A$308 m

Malaysia globally (World Bank)

FDI outflows, 2024: $13.0 bn · 24th
FDI inflows, 2024: $15.6 bn
GDP, 2025: $472 bn
Region · income: East Asia & Pacific · Upper-middle income

Regulatory openness (OECD FDIRRI)

OECD index data loading — see FDI openness

Sources: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (cat. 5352.0), 2025 release, released 2026-05-06 — levels at 31 December and calendar-year flows and income, A$ millions, immediate counterparty basis (investment routed via third economies is attributed to the intermediate economy). World Bank WDI (US$). OECD FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index. np = not published for confidentiality; included in totalsPrepared independently by FDIstats from public statistics; not an Australian Government publication and not investment advice. For foreign investment rules, see the Treasury and FIRB.