Food imports in Malaysia
Malaysia: Food imports was 8.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Food imports in Malaysia, 1964–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 8.3% for food imports in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and down 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Malaysia peaked at 29.9% in 1964 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2000.
That places Malaysia 169th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food imports in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 29.9% | — |
| 1965 | 27.2% | -9.1% |
| 1966 | 25.8% | -5.3% |
| 1967 | 26.6% | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 25.0% | -6.1% |
| 1969 | 23.8% | -4.9% |
| 1970 | 21.5% | -9.5% |
| 1971 | 20.2% | -6.2% |
| 1972 | 20.8% | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 20.8% | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 18.0% | -13.5% |
| 1975 | 18.2% | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 16.7% | -8.4% |
| 1977 | 16.7% | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 16.4% | -1.7% |
| 1979 | 13.6% | -17.6% |
| 1980 | 11.9% | -12.4% |
| 1981 | 12.9% | +8.5% |
| 1982 | 11.7% | -9.4% |
| 1983 | 11.2% | -3.7% |
| 1984 | 11.5% | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 11.8% | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 12.2% | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 11.2% | -8.2% |
| 1988 | 10.6% | -4.9% |
| 1989 | 9.0% | -15.8% |
| 1990 | 6.9% | -22.9% |
| 1991 | 6.4% | -8.1% |
| 1992 | 6.5% | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 6.0% | -8.0% |
| 1994 | 5.2% | -12.8% |
| 1995 | 4.8% | -8.7% |
| 1996 | 5.3% | +9.9% |
| 1997 | 5.4% | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 5.7% | +5.7% |
| 1999 | 5.4% | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 4.3% | -20.1% |
| 2001 | 5.3% | +21.1% |
| 2002 | 5.7% | +9.2% |
| 2003 | 5.0% | -12.0% |
| 2004 | 5.5% | +9.2% |
| 2005 | 5.2% | -6.2% |
| 2006 | 5.2% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | +12.9% |
| 2008 | 7.0% | +19.6% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | +14.0% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 8.8% | +13.3% |
| 2012 | 8.4% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 7.6% | -9.9% |
| 2014 | 7.9% | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 8.7% | +10.4% |
| 2016 | 8.7% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 8.0% | -8.0% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 7.7% | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 8.9% | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 8.9% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 8.2% | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 8.3% | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 8.5% | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 8.3% | -2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 26.4% | 23.8% | 29.9% | 6 |
| 1970s | 18.3% | 13.6% | 21.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.4% | 9.0% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.8% | 4.8% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.7% | 4.3% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.1% | 7.4% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More private sector data for Malaysia
- Merchandise trade 151.7% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 72.0% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 340.44 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 10.4% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 72.7% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 376.04 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 10,452 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.7964 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 13.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 9,462 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Malaysia?
- Food imports in Malaysia was 8.3% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 29.9% in 1964.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2000.
- How does Malaysia rank for food imports?
- Malaysia ranks 169th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.