Guide Sheet: Import Goods to Malaysia

Goods imported to Malaysia

The import goods to Malaysia from Thailand have mostly refined petroleum, rubber tires and vehicle parts. Total imports to Malaysia reported an increase of over 20% from the ASEAN countries and over 70 billion Malaysian Ringgit worth of imports in 2021. In May 2021, Iron and steel accounted for almost 60% of the total imports. Mechanical appliances accounted for 11% and consumptions goods such as jewellery are 9% of the total imports. A prediction of continued growth was established by experts. Studies show that importing goods to Malaysia do have a noticeable impact on the overall economic growth of Malaysia. Imports enhanced economic growth but economic growth does influence by imports. In general, exporting and importing is not only contribute to the growth of a country but also a holistic development as a country.

Import or Export licensing

Although Malaysia has a relatively liberal import system and regulations, all importers are subjected to follow some important procedures before taking action. Goods licensing is extremely crucial for administrative and legal purposes. All the senders are required to register with the Companies Commission of Malaysia and obtain licenses for the entitled goods from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

Note that not all goods are required to be licensed. The goods that required a license are:

Alive or dead animals;
Food;
Vehicles;
Iron;
Plants;
Agricultural products; and others

Some documents are needed to import goods into Malaysia, for instance, Custom Import declaration, List of Items, Origin Certificate, Invoice and Bills. Senders are expected to understand and comply with all of the procedures and prepare required documents before taking action.

There are two types of import licensing:

Automatic Import Licensing: Application approval is granted in most cases.
Non-automatic Import Licensing: The procedures are justified within the WTO agreement.

Different products are subject to different licenses and the products have different WTO document numbers. For instance, sugar, mobile lifting frame, sugar and wheat flour are subject to Automatic Import Licensing. Whilst, toxic chemicals, batteries and commercial vehicles are subject to Non-automatic Import Licensing. General rules and procedures will be applicable to all types of licensing such as fair and neutral application. All the application and renewal forms are publicly available to be accessed.

Import Taxes

Possible import taxes will be applied subject to the goods. Malaysia as an Islamic state, irreligious goods such as pork and alcohol may apply to higher taxes. Goods and Service Tax (GST) are 6% in Malaysia, applying to all goods that are imported. We encourage traders to research and understand the state’s regulations that are needed to comply.

Support from BBF Logistics

Do you want to import goods to Malaysia with BBF’s Malaysia – Thailand Cross Border Logistics? Bintang Baru Forwarding (BBF) Logistics is a leading logistic company in Malaysia. We cover mainly Malaysia and Thailand cross border logistics with a holistic service from custom clearance to storage at the border. Our team aims to offer the best quality service and reduce customers’ costs. We specialised in cross border logistics by lorry transportation, door to door service with more than 25 years of experience now. Our group of experts aim to deliver your goods within 3 to 4 days, save your time and minimize your risks.

Guide Sheet: Thailand Export to Malaysia

October 4, 2021