Malaysia’s lighting industry saw a substantial increase in exports into Germany last year. Exports grew 35.4 percent to US $139 million in 2013, a huge leap from a mere US $3.9 million in 2008, said Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade). 

Growing interest in energy-saving solutions in Europe is the driving force behind the increase in export volume. “Germany is currently Europe’s leading energy-efficient lighting market ahead of the UK, Italy, and France,” said S. Jai Shankar, Matrade Frankfurt’s Trade Commissioner in an article by Malaysian newspaper The Star. High energy prices are forcing German architects, public investors, and consumers to switch to greener lighting solutions. 

Malaysia's lighting exports to Germany increase substantially in 2013 as Germany's interest in energy-efficient lighting grows. (photo courtesy of The Star)

Countries with close trading ties with Germany are also a promising market for Malaysian exporters. Shankar urges local manufacturers to focus on exporting to countries including Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic. 

Lower production costs make the Asian lighting market appealing to European lighting manufacturers who have been increasingly moving production capacity eastward. The number of Asian imports into the European lighting market is also on the rise. The Malaysian government plans to continue to encourage further investment into the country’s lighting industry.