"Foreign affiliates in Malaysia contributed 17.0 per cent to the Malaysia’s economy by registering a value added
of RM241.0 billion in 2020"

A total of 2,979 foreign affiliates were operating in Malaysia for 2020, dropped marginally by 0.4 percent as against 2,990 affiliates a year ago. The decline was partly attributed by the impact from the global health crisis and uncertain economic situation amid COVID-19 pendemic throughout the year 2020. Despite this turbulent time, Manufacturing remained as sector with the highest number of affiliate by contributing 57.1 per cent or 1,701 affiliates, followed by Services (34.4%) and Contsruction sectors (4.4%).

The value added generated by foreign affiliates in Malaysia dropped by 7.0 per cent to post RM241.0 billion and this value added represented of 17.0 per cent of Malaysia’s economy. Manufacturing sector generated the highest value added in 2020 with RM115.8 billion or 48.0 per cent, and followed by Services and Mining & quarrying sectors. 

The number of employees engaged with foreign affiliates also declined by 0.9 per cent to record 859,541 persons as compared to the preceding year. This scenario reflected the sluggish labour market in the country. Concurrently, the compensation of employees also decreased to RM48.7 billion (2019: RM50.6 billion). Looking into sectoral review in 2020, Manufacturing sector employed the highest number of workers at 640,434 persons (74.5%) with RM33.3 billion of compensation of employees primarily in Electrical, transport equipment and other manufacturing sub-sector.

Exports of goods and services by foreign affiliates in Malaysia registered RM290.2 billion, while imports recorded a value of RM262.1 billion, Both exports and imports were mainly contributed by Manufacturing, Services and Mining & quarrying sectors. The performance of exports and imports of goods and services for 2020 declined by 5.0 per cent and  2.9 per cent respectively from last year. 

The full publication of Statistics on Foreign Affiliates in Malaysia (IFATS), 2020 can be downloaded through eStatistik portal.

Released By:

DATO' SRI DR. MOHD UZIR MAHIDIN
CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
 DrUzir_Mahidin    Dr_Uzir

14 September 2021

Contact person:

Mohd Yusrizal Ab Razak
Public Relation Officer
Strategic Communication and International Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Tel : +603-8885 7942
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : yusrizal.razak[at]dosm.gov.my