Accra:Malaysia's economy expanded by 5.3 percent in the third quarter of 2026, following a 6.0 percent growth in the previous quarter, as reported by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, all economic sectors contributed to this growth except for mining and quarrying, which experienced a contraction. The cumulative economic growth for the first three quarters of 2026 was 5.5 percent, surpassing the 4.8 percent growth recorded during the same period in 2025.

The services sector was the primary driver of economic growth in the third quarter, increasing by 5.4 percent, bolstered by the wholesale and retail trade, information and communication, and finance and insurance sub-sectors. The manufacturing sector also showed strength, growing by 7.5 percent, supported by export-oriented industries such as electrical, electronic and optical products, and petroleum, chemicals, rubber, and plastics products.

The construction sector grew by 6.0 percent, slightly down from 6.5 percent in the previous quarter, with support from non-residential buildings, particularly data center construction projects, and specialized construction activities. Meanwhile, the agriculture sector rebounded with a 1.3 percent increase, driven by the oil palm and livestock sub-sectors.

In contrast, the mining and quarrying sector contracted by 4.9 percent, attributed to a decline in the crude oil and condensate sub-sector. A preliminary GDP report providing a detailed analysis of the economic performance for the third quarter of 2026 is scheduled for release on November 18, 2026.