Plastic waste exports in Malaysia
Malaysia: Plastic waste exports was 0 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Malaysia, 1989–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for plastic waste exports in Malaysia is 0 tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Malaysia peaked at 250,809 tonnes in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2018.
That places Malaysia 144th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,341 tonnes | 4,341 tonnes | 4,341 tonnes | 1 |
| 1990s | 15,223 tonnes | 4,547 tonnes | 41,057 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 97,023 tonnes | 38,942 tonnes | 153,507 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 153,469 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 250,809 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,306 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 21,456 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 141 Angola 2.03 tonnes compare
- 142 East Timor 1 tonnes compare
- 143 Papua New Guinea 0.828 tonnes compare
- 144 Austria 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Bahrain 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Canada 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Fiji 0 tonnes compare
- 144 France 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Germany 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Ghana 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Hungary 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Italy 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Jordan 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Kazakhstan 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Lebanon 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Mexico 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Oman 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Qatar 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Romania 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Singapore 0 tonnes compare
- 144 South Korea 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Spain 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Thailand 0 tonnes compare
- 144 United Arab Emirates 0 tonnes compare
- 144 United Kingdom 0 tonnes compare
- 144 United States 0 tonnes compare
More environment data for Malaysia
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 332.17 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 9.34 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 3.89 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0205 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 9.39 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0252 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 26.26 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0898 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.3735 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 12.28 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Malaysia?
- Plastic waste exports in Malaysia was 0 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 250,809 tonnes in 2013.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2018.
- How does Malaysia rank for plastic waste exports?
- Malaysia ranks 144th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.