Rules by country / Asia Pacific / Malaysia sugar tax 2026
Malaysia sugar tax 2026: what it costs each drink, and what to do
Drinks over the sugar limit pay RM 0.90 a litre since January 2025, up from 50 sen. The limit depends on the drink: 5g per 100ml for soft drinks, 7g for milk drinks, 12g for juice drinks. We work out the cost for every product and the most profitable response.
At the rate in force since 1 January 2025. Premixes over 33.3g of sugar per 100g pay RM 0.47 per 100g.
A sugar tax review for Malaysia
What the tax costs each product, and the most profitable response, with a price plan for each retailer.
- The tax on every product, against its own sugar limit
- Pass on, absorb or cut sugar: the most profitable choice for each product, and how sure we are
- The most a recipe change can cost and still pay
- A price plan for each retailer, and an Excel model
How your results look
| Product | Sugar per 100ml | Tax | Our advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cola, 330ml can | 10.6g | 29.7 sen a can | Pass on in full |
| Chocolate milk, 250ml | 8g | 22.5 sen a pack | Cut sugar to 7g |
| Orange drink, 1 litre | 11g | No tax | Hold the price |
Fictional products. Every real result comes with the expected sales and profit, and a likely range.
Your options
Every option has a fixed price, agreed before we start.
Sugar tax review
- The tax and best choice for each product
- Price plan for each retailer
- Scenario model and a walk-through
Pricing review with the tax
- Everything in the tax review
- Prices and promotions for the whole range
- How your products take sales from each other
Portfolio review
- Everything in the pricing review
- More retailers and data sources
- A plan for each channel
After the project: a refresh before each pricing round, from £2,000 (about RM 11,000). Prices are fixed in pounds sterling; amounts in ringgit are a guide at October 2026 exchange rates. We're based in the UK and work remotely, in English, under NDA.
How it works
From the first call to your plan in about three weeks.
A free 15-minute call
Tell us about your range. We say whether a review would pay for itself, and quote a fixed price.
Your data
Sales by product and retailer, recipes and costs. We sign an NDA before anything moves.
Your plan
The tax on every product, the best choice and a price plan, walked through with your team.
Malaysia sugar tax: the detail
Open only what you need.
- Rate
- RM 0.90 a litre since 1 January 2025 (50 sen in 2024, 40 sen from July 2019)
- Soft drinks
- Taxed above 5g of sugar per 100ml
- Milk-based drinks
- Taxed above 7g per 100ml
- Juice drinks
- Fruit and vegetable juice drinks taxed above 12g per 100ml; 100% juices exempt
- Premixes
- 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 coffee, tea and chocolate mixes above 33.3g of sugar per 100g pay RM 0.47 per 100g, since 1 March 2024
Pass it on
Raise the price by the tax or more. Works for products whose sales hold up when the price rises.
Absorb it
Keep the price and take the cost. Works when a rise would push a product past a key price point and lose more profit than the tax.
Cut sugar
Soft drinks at 5g or less pay nothing, milk drinks at 7g or less, and juice drinks at 12g or less.
Does Malaysia have a sugar tax?
Yes. Since July 2019, drinks over a sugar limit pay an excise duty per litre. The rate is RM 0.90 a litre since 1 January 2025.
What is the sugar tax in Malaysia?
RM 0.90 a litre on soft drinks over 5g of sugar per 100ml, milk-based drinks over 7g and juice drinks over 12g. Premixes over 33.3g per 100g pay RM 0.47 per 100g.
Is the sugar tax in Malaysia changing in 2026?
The rate has been RM 0.90 a litre since 1 January 2025, up from 50 sen. No change for 2026 was announced when we checked.
How much sugar tax is on a can of soft drink in Malaysia?
A 330ml can over 5g of sugar per 100ml pays about 29.7 sen.
How much does a sugar tax review cost?
A review of up to 10 products has a fixed price from £7,500 (about RM 41,000) and takes about three weeks. For 11 to 50 products, a full pricing review with the sugar tax built in costs around £17,500 (about RM 96,000). It starts with a free 15-minute call.
Do you work with brands in Malaysia?
Yes. We're based in the UK and work remotely and in English, under NDA. Prices are fixed in pounds sterling before we start, and the first step is a free 15-minute call.
- Bernama, sugar-sweetened beverages excise duty raised to 90 sen per litre
- PwC, Malaysian Tax Booklet 2025/2026: other duties
- KPMG, 2025 Budget: the next step towards kurang manis
Checked on 24 October 2026. Rules and rates change, so check the official source before making decisions. This page is not tax advice.