Share of global plastic waste imports in Malaysia
Malaysia: Share of global plastic waste imports was 9.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in Malaysia, 1989–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of global plastic waste imports in Malaysia is 9.1%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 514.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in Malaysia peaked at 12.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2023.
That places Malaysia 4th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
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 | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.7% | 0.2% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 0.5% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.3% | 0.0% | 9.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
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 share of global plastic waste imports in Malaysia?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in Malaysia was 9.1% in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2018.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2023.
- How does Malaysia rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- Malaysia ranks 4th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 514.9%. 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 major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of global plastic waste imports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of global plastic waste imports that a country accounts for.