October 2026: what it means for getting paid

What October meant for businesses that sell on credit, with what to watch in November at the end.

The September figures came out on 19 October. Electrical and electronic products drove most of the growth and shipments to the US rose by RM18.0 billion. Growth this fast usually means bigger orders on credit terms. If your sales have grown this year, the money customers owe you has probably grown with them.

Early estimates on 16 October put growth at 5.3%, with manufacturing up 7.5% and construction up 6.0%. A strong quarter is good for orders. It is also when credit checks tend to slip, because everyone seems to be paying.

Tabled on 9 October, it proposes a one-point tax cut for micro, small and medium businesses from 2027: 14% on the first RM150,000 of chargeable income and 16% up to RM600,000. Stamp duty is capped at RM10 on agreements that let mid-tier companies use bank credit to pay smaller suppliers early, from 2027 to 2030. Both need the Finance Bill to pass.

On 13 October the trade minister said Malaysian semiconductors remain exempt from US tariffs. The Section 301 forced labour issue is settled at 10%. The US investigation into excess capacity is the one part not finalised. If your customers sell into the US, a decision there could squeeze their margins quickly. That can reach you as a request for longer terms.

Coface's 2026 survey of 2,800 finance professionals in 10 Asia Pacific markets, published in September, found average payment terms of 70.2 days and an average payment delay of 68.1 days. Across the region, 45% of firms had at least one customer default in the past 12 months. In Singapore, 49% of firms said delays had become more frequent, against 21% who saw fewer. A customer on 60-day terms who pays that late keeps your money for about four months.

When sales grow this fast, do you raise credit limits automatically or check each customer first?