How to Start Import Export Business in Malaysia | Tendata Import Export Database
Shawn Pang
CMO at Tendata - Global Import Export Trade Data Provider Since 2005??200+ Countries | 50000+ Clients | 1.3 Billion International Trade Data??Expert in Market Analysis, Customer Development, Competitor Monitoring and CRM
Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia and is separated by the South China Sea into two parts, east and west, namely, the southern part of the Malay Peninsula and the northern part of the island of Kalimantan.
Malaysia is a constitutional federal monarchy. Its capital, Kuala Lumpur, is the largest city in Malaysia, and it is a cosmopolitan city with great influence on culture, education, sports, finance, economy, commerce, and finance in Southeast Asia, and is one of the two major centers of diplomacy in Southeast Asia, boasting a whopping 12.3 million foreign tourist arrivals annually, surpassing Beijing, Rome, Taipei, and Shanghai, and ranking as the world's most appealing city for foreign tourists at the It is the tenth most attractive city for foreign tourists in the world, surpassing Beijing, Rome, Taipei, and Shanghai.
I. Malaysia Country Profile
Country Name: Malaysia
Area About 330,000 square kilometers
Population About 33 million (2023). Among them, 69.4% are Malays, 23.2% are Chinese, 6.7% are Indians, and 0.7% are of other races. Malay is the national language, English is commonly spoken, and Chinese is widely used.
Religion Islam is the state religion, and other religions include Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity.
Capital city Kuala Lumpur
Resources Natural resources are abundant. Rubber, palm oil and pepper production and export volume of the world's leading. Once the world's largest tin-producing country, but in recent years the production has been reduced year by year. Malaysia is rich in oil reserves, in addition to iron, gold, tungsten, coal, bauxite, manganese and other minerals.
Pillar Industries Malaysia's pillar industries are manufacturing, mining, agriculture and services.
II. Malaysia Hot Import Products
3C Electronics
With the development of technology, smart home and electronic products are becoming increasingly popular in Malaysia's e-commerce market. Products such as smartphones, tablets, smart home devices, and smartwatches have become popular choices for consumers to pursue. Malaysian consumers' demand for tech products is growing and the latest tech products can be easily purchased through e-commerce platforms.
Fashion Accessories
Young Malaysian consumers have a high demand for fashionable and personalized clothing and accessories. Local fashion brands are more popular than international brands, and men also prefer to buy fashion items such as clothing, accessories, footwear, and wallets, while women favor fashion items such as jackets, underwear, long sleeves, and t-shirts.
Beauty and Personal Care
Beauty and personal care are popular categories in the Malaysian e-commerce market. Malaysian consumers are very conscious about beauty and personal care, with high demand for all types of products ranging from skincare, color cosmetics, shampoo and conditioning to perfumes. E-commerce platforms provide convenient channels for consumers to choose the right beauty products for them from across the globe.
Mother and baby products
Mother and baby products are a fast-growing segment in Malaysia's e-commerce market. Maternity products, baby care products, and children's toys are all popular e-commerce products. E-commerce platforms offer the convenience of one-stop shopping, allowing parents-to-be and parents to easily find the mother and baby products they need for their child's growth and development.
Food
The food category is one of the very popular commodities in Malaysia, and specialties and snacks from other countries and regions also have good sales locally.
Home Life
Home living products are also popular in Malaysia's e-commerce market. Smart homes, home decorations, furniture, kitchenware, bedding, and other products are attracting attention from consumers. With the pursuit of a comfortable home environment, people are looking for uniquely designed and high-quality products on e-commerce platforms to enhance their home taste and quality of life.
Sports and Outdoor Products
Malaysia is rich in outdoor sports and natural resources, thus sports and outdoor products are also highly favored. Sports equipment, fitness equipment, camping supplies, hiking gear, and other products are highly sought after by outdoor enthusiasts on e-commerce platforms. Consumers can purchase all kinds of sports and outdoor products through e-commerce platforms to enjoy outdoor activities.
III. How to Export to Malaysia and Find Malaysia's Buyers?
1. Local Search Engine
领英推荐
2. Trade Data Website
Find Malaysia Importers/Exporters:
Malaysia Customs official website:
Malaysian National Trade Authority:
Malaysian Companies Registry:
Malaysian Investment Development Authority:
Malaysian Foreign Trade Development Association:
IV. Export Malaysia needs a certificate of origin
First of all, for Chinese products exported to Malaysia, the most commonly used certificate of origin is the “China-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement Certificate of Origin”, or “FORM E” for short. This certificate is under the framework of the China-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which proves that Chinese products enjoy zero tariff or tariff reduction when exported, which can greatly reduce the import cost of the products and improve the competitiveness of the products in the Malaysian market. It is worth noting that for “FORM E” need to comply with certain regulations and procedures, such as product origin, trade mode, mode of transportation, etc., you need to consult the relevant departments in advance and prepare information.
2. RCEP framework agreement certificate of origin
In addition to the “FORM E” certificate, there is another certificate of origin can be handled, namely the “RCEP certificate of origin”. With the signing and implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), the certificate has become increasingly important in China's exports to Malaysia. Similar to the “FORM E” certificate, the “RCEP certificate of origin” can also enjoy preferential treatment of import tariffs.
3. General Certificate of Origin CO
In addition to the above two certificates, there is a general certificate of origin “CO”. It is a certificate of the country where the product is exported, stating that the production or manufacturing process of the product takes place in that country. Although the “CO” certificate can not enjoy preferential tariff treatment, but in some specific cases, can still be used as a necessary proof of export products.
Documentary requirements for export
1. Not accept the same box used in 2 or more bills of lading, i.e.: not accept partial bill;
2. Breakbulk shipment is not accepted;
3. The consignor, consignee, and notifier must provide complete information and display it on the bill of lading (including company name, address, city, and country), the address should show at least 2 lines;
4. The consignor cannot be a Malaysian company or individual;
5. The consignee must be a local company in Malaysia. If it is to order a bill of lading, the notifying party must be a local company in Malaysia; if it is the case of transshipment, the consignee needs to be shown as the real consignee C/O local company in Malaysia, and provide the address of the Malaysian company;
6. If the consignee is a bank, the bill of lading must be shown as “to order of xxx bank”;
7. If it is to order a bill of lading, only one space should be reserved between “to” and “order”.
8. Bills of Lading to Pasir Gudang or Tanjung Pelepas cannot show a transshipment clause;
9. All cargoes to Malaysia and transshipment here must provide a 6-digit HS CODE; if multiple cargoes are mixed, involving different HS CODE, please send cargo information separately according to HS CODE.
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