Malaysia’s services revenue climbs 11 per cent to RM732.5 billion
Services employment reached 4.7 million persons in 3Q 2026, while e-commerce income rose from a year earlier but fell against the preceding quarter.
Malaysia recorded RM732.5 billion in services sector revenue during the third quarter of 2026 (3Q 2026), an increase of 11 per cent from a year earlier, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Revenue was also 2.5 per cent higher than in the preceding quarter.
The largest annual revenue increase among the subsectors was in the combined segment covering wholesale and retail trade, accommodation, and food and beverage. Revenue reached RM554.7 billion, up 11.6 per cent. DOSM linked the performance to stronger household expenditure and tourism activity.
The grouping covering transportation and storage alongside information and communication generated RM102.2 billion, a 9.7 per cent increase. Revenue rose 7.8 per cent for the combined professional, real estate, administrative and support services segment.
Annual revenue growth was 8.9 per cent for the grouping encompassing private education, private health, arts, recreation, entertainment, and personal and other services. The services volume index, meanwhile, reached 174.3 points, rising 5.9 per cent from a year earlier.
E-commerce income totalled RM335.8 billion, increasing 2.6 per cent against the same quarter a year earlier. Compared with the preceding quarter, however, it fell 0.6 per cent.
Services employment stood at 4.7 million persons, up 2.2 per cent annually and 0.7 per cent quarterly. Transportation and storage led the annual employment gains at 4.3 per cent, followed by personal and other services at 3.2 per cent.
Total salaries and wages reached RM36.1 billion, increasing 4.6 per cent from a year earlier and 1.4 per cent from the preceding quarter. Food and beverage registered a 9.9 per cent annual increase, while real estate recorded 9.7 per cent.
