A new report from ABB finds that 63 percent of industrial companies in Malaysia have already invested in energy efficiency. A further 33 percent plan to invest within the next 12 months.
Energy costs remain a major concern. They account for around 25 percent of operating expenses, while 61 percent of companies say rising prices threaten profitability.
The study highlights a shift in challenges. Cost is no longer the main barrier. Instead, companies struggle with data gaps, lack of specialist skills, and internal silos that slow implementation.
Malaysia stands out for high digital readiness at 84 percent. However, only 42 percent of companies consistently apply total cost of ownership when making investment decisions, despite broad agreement on its importance.
The report also notes that 43 percent of companies have adopted renewable energy. Among them, 37 percent report reduced focus on efficiency, leaving further savings and resilience gains untapped.
