Malaysia’s imports grew by 7.3% year-on-year to MYR 118.82 billion in September 2025, reversing a 5.9% drop in the previous month and easily topping market consensus of a 1.4% gain. It also marked the strongest rise since May, as domestic demand sharply recovered ahead of the release of the 2026 budget. Purchases increased for capital goods (9.3%) and consumption goods (5.1%), while intermediate goods (-7.6%) and dual-use goods (-29.5%). By sector, manufacturing imports rose 6.1%, led by E&E products (-12.1%) and transport equipment (16.8%). Agricultural imports added 4.6%, mostly driven by palm oil products (253.5%). Mining imports jumped 23.8% on rises in crude petroleum (37.0%) and metalliferous ores and metal scrap (52.3%). By destination, imports rose from China (46.6%), the EU (2.4%), Japan (1.8%), and ASEAN countries (-3.1%), but shrank from the U.S. (-19.2%), South Korea (-10.8%), and Hong Kong (-14.1%). During January–September, total imports gained 4.0% to MYR 1.06 trillion.