Malaysia records RM112.2b net liabilities in international investment position in Q3

(Sun Daily) – Malaysia’s net international investment position recorded higher net liabilities of RM112.2 billion for the third quarter (Q3) of 2018, 40.8% higher than the RM79.7 billion in Q2, according to the Department of Statistics.

For the quarter under review, the country’s financial liabilities position increased to RM1.81 trillion against RM1.76 billion in Q2. Total assets registered RM1.7 trillion, higher than the RM1.68 trillion in Q2. This translated to the higher net liabilities of RM112.2 billion.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) position in Malaysia in Q3 was up 10% to RM614.7 billion from RM590.3 billion in Q2. The manufacturing sector was the highest FDI recipient (41.4%), followed by financial and insurance or takaful activities (22.3%) and wholesale & retail trade (7.2%).

The top three FDI countries were Singapore (RM120.9 billion), Japan (RM74.5 billion) and Hong Kong (RM72.5 billion).

Direct investment abroad (DIA) declined to RM491.3 billion in Q3 from RM481 billion in Q2. It was mainly in financial and insurance or takaful activities (37.7%), followed by mining and quarrying (16.7%) and agriculture (8.1%).

Singapore remained as the main destination of DIA position with RM95.2 billion or 19.4% of DIA, followed by Indonesia (RM45.1 billion) and Cayman Islands(RM29.7 billion).

Portfolio investment continued to be in a net liabilities position, recording RM287.5 billion in Q3 against RM272.2 billion in Q2, while other investment recorded net liabilities of RM129.0 billion in Q3 versus RM123.6 billion in Q2.