Overall Balance of Payments

In the second quarter 2015, Malaysia's Balance of Payments recorded a lower surplus in current account of RM7.6 billion as compared to RM10.0 billion in the previous quarter. In the meantime, financial account posted an inflow of RM2.3 billion (Q1 2015: -RM29.7 billion) and international reserves of Bank Negara Malaysia recorded an increase of RM8.5 billion (Q1 2015: RM15.7 billion).

Current Account

A lower surplus in current account mainly reflected by lower surplus of RM23.3 billion in goods account and higher deficit of RM4.6 billion in services account. Year-on-year, the surplus on current account narrowed by RM7.4 billion from RM15.0 billion in Q2 2014.

Capital Account

In Q2 2015, capital account posted a significant net outflow of RM1.1 billion compared to RM2.0 million in the last quarter, contributed by higher payments on nonproduced nonfinancial assets outflow by RM1.1 billion. Year-on-year, net outflow of capital account posted higher outflow from RM1.0 million to RM1.1 billion in the same period last year.

Financial Account

The financial account recorded a turnaround to net inflow of RM2.3 billion from a net outflow of RM29.7 billion last quarter. This was mainly due to a reversal in other investment of RM18.4 billion from -RM20.6 billion. Year-on-year, financial account switched to net inflow from net outflow of RM11.0 billion in Q2 2014. This was attributed mainly by a turnaround in other investment from net outflow of RM14.5 billion a year ago.

In term of direct investment, it registered a higher net outflow of RM3.9 billion from RM1.2 billion last quarter. On assets and liabilities basis, assets recorded a higher net outflow of RM17.8 billion (Q1 2015: -RM9.8 billion), while liabilities posted a higher net inflow of RM13.9 billion (Q1 2015: RM8.6 billion). According to directional basis, Direct Investment Abroad (DIA) recorded higher net outflow of RM16.4 billion (Q1 2015: -RM11.1 billion). Meanwhile, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Malaysia recorded a higher net inflow of RM12.5 billion (Q1 2015: RM9.9 billion).

Reserve Assets

The international reserves of Bank Negara Malaysia as at end of June 2015 was RM398.1 billion, an increased by RM8.5 billion as compared to a quarter ago.

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