Bank Negara governor: Malaysia’s current account surplus holding at up to 2.5pc of GDP this year

AI Summary

Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour projects Malaysia's current account surplus to remain between 1.5% and 2.5% of GDP in 2025, despite a smaller surplus of 1% in Q2 2025 due to cyclical factors like planned maintenance affecting commodity production. Capital imports surged due to data center investments, but this is expected to boost future exports. The first half of 2025 saw a healthy 1.7% surplus. Increased travel receipts and government tourism initiatives are expected to further improve the current account balance.