Kuala lumpur: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) anticipates the full-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2025 to reach the upper threshold of its forecast range between 4.0 percent and 4.8 percent, as announced by Governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour. He highlighted that Malaysia’s economy has already expanded by 4.7 percent during the first nine months of 2025, aligning well with the central bank’s projections.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the governor expressed optimism, stating, “We are now at the upper end of the range,” during a joint press conference held by BNM and the Department of Statistics Malaysia. This event coincided with the announcement of the third quarter (3Q) 2025 GDP performance. Malaysia’s GDP surged to 5.2 percent in the third quarter, buoyed by robust domestic demand and an increase in net exports.

The country’s economy demonstrated a 4.4 percent growth rate in both the first and second quarters of the year. Despite the positive outlook, Abdul Rasheed warned of potential risks to growth, citing factors such as a possible trade slowdown due to increased tariffs by the United States, weakened sentiment affecting spending and investment, and lower-than-expected commodity production.

Conversely, the governor noted that growth might exceed expectations with the implementation of more pro-growth policies in major economies, favorable outcomes from ongoing US trade negotiations, rising demand for electrical and electronics goods, and a boost in tourism activity.