Helsinki: Malaysia aims to double exports to Finland by 2030, focusing on key sectors such as electronics, halal food, and green construction materials. Malaysia’s Charg© d’Affaires ad interim in Helsinki, Al-Fadil Adam, expressed optimism about significantly increasing export volumes, driven by strong engagement in trade missions and ongoing efforts to comply with European Union (EU) regulatory standards.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysia’s bilateral trade relations with Finland remain steady and promising, particularly in sectors aligned with sustainability, technology, and niche exports. Al-Fadil Adam emphasized the importance of quality, compliance, and partnership to strengthen Malaysia’s position in the Finnish market. He noted that Malaysia’s total trade with Finland rose by 1.5 per cent to RM953 million (US$220 million) in the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
During this period, Malaysia’s exports increased by 21.3 per cent to RM440 million (US$101 million), while imports declined by 11.1 per cent to RM512 million (US$117 million) compared to the corresponding period in 2024. The main exports to Finland included electrical and electronic products (59.3 per cent), metal manufactures (8.9 per cent), rubber products (7.5 per cent), processed food (five per cent), and chemicals and chemical products (4.8 per cent).
Malaysia’s primary imports from Finland were manufactures of metal (26 per cent), chemicals and chemical products (21.1 per cent), electrical and electronic products (13.8 per cent), machinery, equipment parts (11.2 per cent), and processed food (10.4 per cent). Moving forward, several initiatives are underway to deepen economic ties, including dialogues with trade missions, business delegations, and potential bilateral agreements.
Al-Fadil highlighted the resumption of the Malaysia-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiation earlier this year as a landmark moment in Malaysia’s economic partnership with the EU, presenting an opportunity to boost trade and investments. Additionally, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), which covers Finland via its office in the Netherlands, plays a crucial role in offering market intelligence, export advisory services, business matching programs, and facilitating Malaysian participation in relevant trade fairs and expos.
In 2024, Finland was Malaysia’s 55th global trading partner, while Malaysia ranked as Finland’s 33rd global trading partner. Among EU countries, Finland was Malaysia’s 15th trading partner, and among ASEAN countries, Malaysia ranked as Finland’s third-largest trading partner.