OVERALL BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

In the third quarter 2017, Malaysia's Balance of Payments recorded a larger surplus of RM12.5 billion as compared to RM9.6 billion in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, financial account recorded a net outflow RM1.2 billion from a net inflow of RM7.3 billion. The international reserves of Bank Negara Malaysia increased by RM2.9 billion in Q3 2017 (Q2 2017: increased RM2.7 billion). 

CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE

The current account balance increased by RM2.9 billion from previous quarter mainly due to further expansion in goods accounts of RM31.7 billion (Q2 2017: surplus RM27.0 billion). Meanwhile, services account also contributed by registering lower deficit of RM4.9 billion from RM5.0 billion in the previous quarter. 

FINANCIAL ACCOUNT

The financial account recorded a net outflow of RM1.2 billion from a net inflow of RM7.3 billion mainly due to reversal of portfolio investment to net outflow of RM5.1 billion (Q2 2017: net inflow RM16.0 billion). As for direct investment flow, Direct Investment Abroad (DIA) posted a net outflow of RM5.0 billion (Q2 2017: net outflow RM15.4 billion), while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Malaysia recorded a higher net inflow of RM11.2 billion (Q2 2017: net inflow RM8.3 billion). 

Download: Summary Table of Balance of Payments, Q3 2017 

Released By:

THE OFFICE OF CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
17 November 2017

Contact person:
Ho Mei Kei
Public Relation Officer
Corporate and User Services Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Tel : +603-8885 7942
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : mkho[at]stats.gov.my