AmBank raises Malaysia 2026 GDP forecast to 4.8% on strong H1 performance

The upgrade aligns with Maybank's 4.9% projection, reinforcing consensus that Malaysia's economic expansion remains resilient despite global headwinds.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-07-17 04:17 UTC · 1 min read Last updated: 2026-07-17 06:37 UTC

AmBank Group has upgraded its gross domestic product growth forecast for Malaysia in 2026 to 4.8%, up from a previous estimate of 4.5%.

The lender cited stronger-than-expected economic performance in the first half of the year as the primary driver for the revision.

The move brings AmBank’s outlook closer to the consensus view among local analysts.

Maybank Investment Banking Group recently raised its own 2026 GDP forecast to 4.9%, while Kenanga Research also issued an upward revision.

These coordinated upgrades suggest a broadening confidence in the Southeast Asian economy’s ability to sustain momentum through the second half of the year.

Market participants are closely watching the upcoming release of Malaysia’s second-quarter GDP advance estimate, which is expected to provide concrete data on the pace of economic expansion.