OVERALL BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

In the first quarter 2015, Malaysia's Balance of Payments recorded a higher surplus in current account of RM10.0 billion as compared to RM5.7 billion in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, financial account posted a higher outflow of RM29.7 billion (Q4 2014: -RM26.6 billion) and international reserves of Bank Negara Malaysia recorded a decrease of RM15.7 billion (Q4 2014: RM11.5 billion). 

CURRENT ACCOUNT

The current account balance increased by RM4.3 billion from previous quarter mainly reflected from lower deficit in both primary income account  of RM8.5 billion (Q4 2014: -RM13.2 billion) and services account of RM3.8 billion (Q4 2014: -RM5.5 billion). In contrast, year-on-year, the surplus on current account narrowed by RM9.5 billion from RM19.5 billion in Q1 2014. This was mainly due to lower surplus in goods account by RM3.6 billion from RM31.2 billion and higher deficit in services accounts by RM3.2 billion from RM0.5 billion.

CAPITAL ACCOUNT

In Q1 2015, capital account posted net outflow of RM2.0 million, a reversal from net inflow of RM276.0 million in last quarter. This was due to a reversal in nonproduced nonfinancial assets to net outflow of RM1.0 million. Year-on-year, net outflow of capital account remained to RM2.0 million in the same period last year.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNT

The financial account recorded higher net outflow of RM29.7 billion from RM26.6 billion last quarter. This was mainly due to higher net outflow in other investment of RM20.6 billion from RM4.0 billion.

Year-on-year, financial account registered a lower net outflow by RM8.6 billion from RM38.2 billion in Q1 2014. This was attributed mainly by lower net outflow in direct investment by RM13.2 billion (Q1 2014: -RM14.4 billion).

In term of direct investment, it registered a lower net outflow of RM1.2 billion from RM2.5 billion last quarter. On assets and liabilities basis, assets recorded net outflow of RM9.8 billion (Q4 2014: -RM9.9 billion), while liabilities registered a net inflow of RM8.6 billion (Q4 2014: RM7.5 billion). According to directional basis, Direct Investment Abroad (DIA) posted lower net outflow of RM11.1 billion (Q4 2014: -RM12.2 billion). Meanwhile, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Malaysia recorded a higher net inflow of RM9.9 billion (Q4 2014: RM9.8 billion). 

RESERVE ASSETS

The international reserves of Bank Negara Malaysia as at end of March 2015 was RM389.6 billion, decreased by RM15.7 billion as compared to a quarter ago.

Download: Summary Table of Balance of Payments, 2013 - 2015