Malaysia Import & Export Toolkit

Malaysia is a diversified export economy and the world's #2 palm oil producer. This hub covers LC cost in MYR/USD, ASEAN preferential duty, Sales & Service Tax (SST) and Royal Malaysian Customs (RMCD) clearance.

Currency

MYR (Malaysian Ringgit)

Sales & Service Tax (SST)

Sales Tax 5% or 10% / Service Tax 8%

SST replaced GST in 2018. Sales tax applies at import; service tax on selected services. Not creditable (unlike VAT).

Duty regime

MFN tariffs plus preferential rates under ATIGA, RCEP, ASEAN-China, CPTPP, Malaysia-India CECA, Malaysia-Japan EPA. Excise on autos, alcohol, tobacco, sugary drinks.

Regulatory deep-dive

Malaysia import & export regulations →

Malaysia import/export rules: RMCD customs, uCustoms, MITI licences, SIRIM certification, ASEAN & CPTPP origin, halal.

Authorities · Licensing · Sanctions

Also see compare Malaysia vs other markets →

Free calculators for Malaysia trade

LC Cost Calculator →

All-in bank charges on a Letter of Credit.

Usance LC Interest →

Deferred payment cost with correct ACT/360 or ACT/365 basis.

Import Duty & Tax →

Duty, VAT/GST and landed cost per HS code.

Landed Cost by HS & Country →

Interactive duty + VAT/GST + Incoterm split for this destination.

CIF ↔ FOB Converter →

Convert between CIF, FOB and landed cost.

HS Code Lookup →

Search harmonised classification codes.

CBM & Container →

Volume, weight and container utilisation.

Incoterms 2020 Visualiser →

Cost, risk and document split across all 11 rules.

Multi-Currency Invoice →

FX spread and cross-currency invoice value.

Major ports & gateways

· Port Klang - top-20 global container port
· Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP)
· Penang
· Kuantan
· Bintulu (LNG)

Key trading partners· 7 linked toolkits

Top exports

· Integrated circuits & electronics
· Refined petroleum & LNG
· Palm oil & palm oil products
· Machinery
· Chemicals
· Rubber products
· Timber

Top imports

· Integrated circuits
· Refined petroleum
· Machinery
· Vehicles
· Iron & steel
· Chemicals

Trade finance in Malaysia

· MYR LC usance interest uses ACT/365. USD LCs use ACT/360.
· Malaysia has a large Islamic trade finance market - Murabaha-based LCs are widely available at BNM-regulated banks.
· Malaysian banks (Maybank, CIMB, Public Bank, RHB) quote 0.10-0.20% per quarter for LC issuance.

Customs & duty in Malaysia

· Malaysia uses AHTN 10-digit. First 6 digits align to WCO HS.
· uCustoms is the electronic clearance system. Form D or preferential CoO required for FTA duty.
· SIRIM certification is required for many electrical & telecommunications products.

Incoterms 2020 practice in Malaysia

· FOB Port Klang / PTP is the standard export term. CIF Port Klang for imports.
· Free Industrial Zones and Licensed Manufacturing Warehouses allow duty-suspended re-export processing.

HS commodity guides for Malaysia

Classification, duty and worked landed-cost examples for the commodity families most active on Malaysia's trade lanes.

HS 85Electronics

HS Code for Electronics (Chapter 85) into Malaysia →

HS 84Industrial

HS Code for Industrial Machinery (Chapter 84) into Malaysia →

HS 72Metals

HS Code for Iron & Steel (Chapter 72) into Malaysia →

HS 2710Energy

HS Code for Petroleum Products (HS 2710) into Malaysia →

HS 15Agricultural

HS Code for Edible Oils (Chapter 15) into Malaysia →

HS 2709Energy

HS Code for Crude Oil (HS 2709) into Malaysia →

HS 61 & 62Consumer goods

HS Code for Textiles & Apparel (Chapters 61 and 62) into Malaysia →

HS 31Agricultural

HS Code for Fertilizers (Chapter 31) into Malaysia →

Malaysia's key trading partners

India toolkit →

IGST on imports · 5% / 12% / 18% / 28%

Singapore toolkit →

GST · 9% standard (from 2024)

China toolkit →

Import VAT · 13% standard, 9% reduced, 6% services

United States toolkit →

No federal VAT / GST · 0% federal

Japan toolkit →

Consumption Tax (JCT) · 10% standard / 8% reduced (food, newspapers)

Germany toolkit →

VAT (Umsatzsteuer / Einfuhrumsatzsteuer) · 19% standard, 7% reduced

Frequently asked questions

How does Malaysian SST differ from VAT?

SST is a single-stage tax - Sales Tax (5% or 10%) is charged once at import or manufacturing stage and is NOT creditable downstream. This differs from VAT/GST which is creditable across the value chain.