Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade sector recorded a total sales value of RM154.3 billion in May 2025, representing a 4.4 per cent year-on-year increase, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
In an official statement, Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin attributed the growth to robust performances in the retail and wholesale trade sub-sectors. The retail trade segment posted RM67.1 billion in sales, marking a 4.9 per cent or RM3.1 billion increase compared to the same period last year. Similarly, wholesale trade rose to RM68.2 billion, up 4.7 per cent or RM3.1 billion year-on-year, underscoring consistent business activity along the supply chain.
Online retail sales also registered growth, with the corresponding index rising 2.2 per cent year-on-year. However, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the index recorded a 3.4 per cent month-on-month decline.
In terms of volume index, the sector recorded a 4.1 per cent year-on-year increase. This was led by a 5.8 per cent rise in the wholesale trade volume index, followed by a 3.7 per cent increase in the retail trade index.
Digital payment trends further reinforced the sector’s expansion. Malaysia saw a significant uptick in e-money transactions, which surged by 70.2 per cent to RM21.5 billion in May 2025. Real-time retail payments reached RM289.4 billion, indicating rising demand for immediate payment capabilities.
Financial process exchange (FPX) transactions also experienced notable growth, increasing by 21.1 per cent to RM39.2 billion, reflecting expanded use of online banking services. Credit card payments remained stable at RM18.7 billion, while debit card usage grew eight per cent to RM14.1 billion.
Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir noted that these figures highlight the ongoing transition towards digital payment systems, aligned with evolving consumer behaviour and the broader digital transformation of Malaysia’s financial ecosystem.
-Bernama
