Malaysia’s geology supports a wide variety of mineral resources that have influenced regional development, trade and local industries. From coastal sand deposits to inland ore bodies, mining has shaped towns and transport links across the peninsula and Borneo.
There are 13 Minerals in Malaysia, ranging from Bauxite to Tin. For each entry you’ll find below the columns Type,Main locations,Production (t/yr) so you can quickly compare what each mineral is, where it’s found and typical annual output — you’ll find below concise, sortable details for easy reference.
Which minerals drive Malaysia’s mining economy today?
Tin remains historically important for Malaysia’s export and local industry, while bauxite, silica sand, kaolin and limestone support construction, ceramics and refining sectors; minor but valuable outputs include gold, copper and ilmenite. Production patterns shift by commodity and region (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak), so the table below highlights the main locations alongside recent production figures to show current relevance.
How reliable are the production numbers and where do they come from?
Production figures reflect reported annual estimates from government and industry sources and are useful for comparison, but they can vary year to year due to market demand, regulatory changes and reporting gaps; check the table below and consult Malaysia’s Minerals and Geoscience Department (JMG) or recent industry reports for the latest validated data.
Minerals in Malaysia
| Mineral | Type | Main locations | Production (t/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tin | metal | Perak (Kinta Valley), Selangor, Penang, Kelantan | small-scale |
| Gold | metal | Pahang (Penjom, Raub), Kelantan, Perak | small-scale |
| Bauxite | industrial mineral | Kuantan and Kuantan district, Pahang east coast | commercial |
| Iron ore | metal | Bukit Besi area, Terengganu (historic) | nil |
| Coal | energy mineral | Sarawak (Mukah, Balingian), small deposits Sabah | commercial |
| Crude oil | energy mineral | Offshore Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak | commercial |
| Natural gas | energy mineral | Offshore Sarawak, Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia | commercial |
| Copper | metal | Sabah (Mamut area, Ranau) historical | nil |
| Kaolin (kaolinite) | industrial mineral | Pahang, Perak, Johor | commercial |
| Silica sand (quartz sand) | industrial mineral | Johor, Selangor, Perak, east coast beaches | commercial |
| Clay (ball clay, bentonite) | industrial mineral | Perak, Selangor, Johor | commercial |
| Heavy mineral sands (ilmenite, rutile, zircon) | industrial mineral | East coast beaches: Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang (beach/placer) | small-scale |
| Gemstones (sapphire, garnet, amethyst, topaz) | gemstone | Pahang, Kelantan, Johor alluvial/pegmatite occurrences | small-scale |
Images and Descriptions
Tin
Tin (cassiterite) powered Malaysia’s economy for a century. Used in solder, plating and electronics, it’s now produced on a much smaller scale from alluvial and residual deposits, with historic centres like Kinta Valley still known for tin heritage.
Gold
Gold occurs as veins and alluvial deposits in Pahang and Kelantan. Valued for jewelry and investment, Malaysia hosts small commercial and artisanal mines such as Penjom; most production today is artisanal or low-scale compared with global producers.
Bauxite
Bauxite is the raw ore for aluminium and caused a major export boom from Kuantan around 2015. Mining is commercially significant, but environmental concerns led to regulatory controls and fluctuating yearly output since the boom.
Iron ore
Iron ore was mined historically at Bukit Besi in Terengganu during colonial times. Once important for local industry, large-scale iron production has ceased and remaining occurrences are of mainly historical and local interest.
Coal
Malaysia has modest coal resources, mainly in Sarawak. Coal supplies some local power and industry needs, produced at commercial scale but far below Malaysia’s overall energy mix which is dominated by oil and gas.
Crude oil
Crude oil is a major Malaysian commodity produced offshore and onshore, feeding domestic refining and exports. Petronas is the national producer; oil revenues have underpinned national development for decades.
Natural gas
Natural gas is a cornerstone energy export for Malaysia, produced from offshore fields. It fuels domestic power generation, industry and LNG exports, making Malaysia an important regional gas supplier.
Copper
Copper was produced historically at the Mamut mine in Sabah and from other small deposits. Once commercially mined, active large-scale copper production has largely ceased, though occurrences remain known to collectors and geologists.
Kaolin (kaolinite)
Kaolin is a fine white clay used in ceramics, paper, paint and cosmetics. Malaysia produces kaolin commercially from weathered granitic terrains, supplying domestic industry and some export markets.
Silica sand (quartz sand)
High-purity silica sand is mined for glassmaking, foundry use and industrial silica. Malaysia supplies construction and specialty industries with commercially produced silica sand from river and coastal deposits.
Clay (ball clay, bentonite)
Various clays including ball clay and bentonite are mined for ceramics, drilling muds, fillers and cat litter. These industrial clays are produced commercially in several states to serve domestic manufacturing needs.
Heavy mineral sands (ilmenite, rutile, zircon)
Heavy mineral sands containing ilmenite, rutile and zircon occur in coastal placer deposits. They’re mined on a limited or small-scale basis for pigments, titanium feedstock and ceramic/industrial uses where economically viable.
Gemstones (sapphire, garnet, amethyst, topaz)
Malaysia yields various gem-quality minerals—sapphires, garnets, amethyst and topaz—mainly from alluvial gravels and pegmatites. Production is mostly artisanal and for local markets and collectors rather than large-scale export.
