Malaysia free zones in 2023

Registering a company within a Malaysian free zone offers multiples tax benefits and allows foreign investors to use such entities to export their products across South East Asian markets. Malaysia free zones are notably suitable for foreign companies intending to use Malaysia as a regional manufacturing or distribution base. Malaysia offers several free zones, the most popular being: i) Pasir Gudang free zone ii) Port Klang free zone iii) Kulim Hi-Tech Park iv) Port of Tanjung Pelepas free zone and v) Bayan Lepas free zone.

  • Port Klang Free Zone

    • Located in Port Klang town, the largest gateway by seas into Malaysia, the free zone is a 1000 acre free industrial and commercial zone providing mainly international cargo distribution and consolidation facilities;
    • The free zone also permits local and international companies to establish manufacturing facilities to engage in production of goods mainly for export purposes;
    • Port Klang is a fully integrated free zone complete with a number of amenities allowing investors and entrepreneurs the option of either leasing the existing facilities or establishing new ones;
    • Other facilities within the free zone include light industrial and warehousing units, customs centre, forwarding agents, business complexes, industrial land and trade offices among others;
    • Best uses: Being a multifaceted free zone, Port Klang is suitable for investors and entrepreneurs keen to establish either a manufacturing base, warehousing or international cargo distribution.
  • Port of Tanjung Pelepas free zone

    • PTP Free Zone is majorly a container terminal situated in an 810-hectare piece of land located in South-West Johor between the intersection of the East and West International trade routes near Malaysia-Singapore second crossing;
    • The free zone has also allocated at least 500 hectares of land for warehousing, distribution and logistics activities as well as light, medium and heavy manufacturing industry;
    • PTP also offers modern state of the art facilities for storage of goods and merchandise for redistribution, packing, repackaging, grading or repair;
    • Investors established in PTP will enjoy a single layer processing of declarations and submissions as well as easy and simple movement and transhipment of goods between the local free zones;
    • Best uses: PTP is recommended for investors looking to establish a manufacturing base for export oriented products. Due to its proximity to Singapore, it is a perfect space to establish a distribution base for products intended for international export.
  • Free zone company formation considerations

    • Tax free environments including tax exemptions, on custom duties, taxable services, and imports/exports on selected equipment and raw materials;
    • Free ports in Malaysia are in close proximity to deep sea ports, airports, highways, and railways. Therefore, companies can enjoy an efficient and extensive transport network, as free zones serve as a nodal point for land, air, and sea transport;
    • Malaysian government does not impose stringent foreign exchange controls and investors are free to repatriate their earnings abroad without any limitation;
    • To establish a presence in a free zone, companies are required to rent a physical office space within the preferred free zone. Most free zones have readymade business complexes;
    • Companies within the free zone enjoy simplified and flexible import and export procedures and cost-effective measures for industrial, manufacturing and commercial activities;
    • Other benefits of operating within a free zone include the absence of customs duty on products imported into the free zone for re-exportation purposes.
  • Table comparing different Malaysian industrial free trade zones (FTZs)

    Malaysia free zonesPasir GudangPort KlangPort Tanjung PelepasBayan LepasKulim Hi-Tech Park
    Our ranking in order of preference12345
    Summary at a Glance
    Total year 1 engagement set up costs?US$20,050US$20,050US$20,050US$20,050US$20,050
    Total subsequent yearly costs (incl. audit and tax)?US$6,470US$6,470US$6,470US$6,470US$6,470
    Minimum paid-up share capital required (USD)?US$125,000US$125,000US$125,000US$125,000US$125,000
    Free zone mostly popular in which industry?ManufacturingLogisticsLogisticsManufacturingHi-Tech Manufacturing
    Total engagement period?3 months3 months3 months3 months3 months
    Exempt from corporation tax and GST?Depending on activityDepending on activityDepending on activityDepending on activityDepending on activity
    Exempt from import and export tax duty?Depending on activityDepending on activityDepending on activityDepending on activityDepending on activity
    100% foreign owned?YesYesYesYesYes
    Average monthly warehouse rental (per sq. m.)?US$17US$23US$24US$20US$19
    Manufacturing allowed in the free zone?YesYesYesYesYes
    Incorporation requirements
    Branch office or LLC recommended?LLCLLCLLCLLCLLC
    How long to secure a corporation number?5 weeks5 weeks5 weeks5 weeks5 weeks
    Special permit or license required?YesYesYesYesYes
    How long to secure the license?3 months4 months3 months3 months4 months
    Foreign investor approval required?YesYesYesYesYes
    Our Client must travel?NoNoNoNoNo
    Must maintain an office in the zone?YesYesYesYesYes
    Public register of shareholders & directors?YesYesYesYesYes
    Tax and accounting considerations
    Global sales exempt from corporate tax?YesYesYesYesYes
    Must register for GST/VAT?NoNoNoNoNo
    Global sales exempt from GST/VAT?YesYesYesYesYes
    Social contributions payable to employees?11%11%11%11%11%
    Corporation tax payable on local sales?24%24%24%24%24%
    Annual audited financial statements?YesYesYesYesYes
    Government grants for manufacturing?YesYesYesYesYes
    Access to how many double tax treaties?7474747474
    Average customs tax on imports?7.7%7.7%7.7%7.7%7.7%
    Bank account characteristics
    Healy Consultants’ preferred bank?Standard CharteredHSBCStandard CharteredCitibankStandard Chartered
    Do I travel to open the bank account?NoNoNoNoNo
    Minimum deposit (USD)?US$1,000US$5,000US$1,000US$10,000US$1,000
    Can open US$, €, £ corporate bank account?YesYesYesYesYes
    US$, €, £ corporate visa debit cards?YesYesYesYesYes
    Country currency controls in place?NoNoNoNoNo
    Corporate ATM card available?YesYesYesYesYes
    WEF bank rating out of 1443535353535
    WEF ease of getting credit out of 14422222
    Logistics considerations
    Can rent premises outside free zones?YesYesYesYesYes
    Can make sales to overseas Clients?YesYesYesYesYes
    Allowed to make sales to local Clients?YesYesYesYesYes
    What regulatory licenses requiredIndustry Premise LicenseZB4 LicenseOperator LicenseLMWWarehouse License
    Average local monthly salary?US$500US$500US$500US$500US$500
    Can the entity hire expatriate staff?YesYesYesYesYes
    How long to get work permit approved?3months3months3months3months3months
    Monthly office rental (per sq. m.)?US$20US$17US$15US$15US$17
    Average annual Industrial space rent per 1000 sq ftUS$60,000US$84,000US$82,000US$72,000US$67,000
    Allowed to import raw materials?YesYesYesYesYes
    Allowed to export goods?YesYesYesYesYes
    Proximity to large port?1km1km1km19km44km
    Proximity to international airport?41km20km22km1km42km
    Proximity to train network?2km1km17km35km21km

Contact us

For additional information on our free trade zone company registration services in Malaysia, please contact our in-house country expert, Ms. Chrissi Zamora, directly:
client relationship officer - Chrissi
MY Intl. chamber of commerce and industrymicpaMY accountantsmitimfapkfzMY Customsmaicsa