Labuan financial business activities
Labuan Commodity Trading Company
A Labuan International Commodity Trading Company is the structure used for international commodity trading through Labuan, and it is the only Labuan entity that may employ the full professional category of expatriates.
Commodity trading is one of the business activities recognised under Labuan's regime, and LITC status carries its own conditions and its own advantages.
One of those advantages is specific and often overlooked: the professionals category of expatriate work permit — accountant, lawyer, consultant, underwriter, economist, advisor, engineer, actuary, trader — is only available to a Labuan International Commodity Trading Company. If your plan involves bringing professional staff to Malaysia, the entity type matters.
What to expect
| Entity type | Labuan Commodity Trading Company |
|---|---|
| Expatriate professionals | Only an LITC may employ the professionals category — accountant, lawyer, consultant, underwriter, economist, advisor, engineer, actuary, trader |
| Conditions | LITC status carries specific conditions and annual requirements set by the authorities — confirmed in writing at pre-assessment |
| Economic substance | Applies, with thresholds set by activity |
| Audited accounts | Required |
How we help
- Pre-assessment of the proposed business activity against Labuan FSA's criteria
- Advice on the latest regulatory and statutory requirements for the licence
- Preparation of the application, business plan and supporting documents
- Managing your interaction with Labuan FSA throughout the assessment
- Incorporating and maintaining the licensed entity itself — registered office, resident secretary, statutory records
- Post-licensing compliance: economic substance, reporting, accounting and audit
Frequently asked questions
Why does LITC status matter for work permits?
Because the professionals category of expatriate position — accountant, lawyer, consultant, underwriter, economist, advisor, engineer, actuary and trader — is only available where the employer is a Labuan International Commodity Trading Company. Other Labuan companies are limited to top management and technical experts.
Speak to us
We are the licensed trust company, so the advice and the filing come from the same place.
Talk to our KonsultanSources
The primary documents this page relies on, linked to the authority that issued them. If one has moved, tell us and we will correct it.
- Labuan International Commodity Trading Company — Labuan FSA overview of the activity (opens in a new tab)
Labuan FSA · Regulator
Labuan FSA's own description of the LITC framework and its conditions.
- Guidelines on tax-related matters, including substance requirements (opens in a new tab)
Labuan FSA · Guideline
- Acts administered by Labuan FSA — including the Labuan Companies Act 1990, the Labuan Business Activity Tax Act 1990 and the Labuan Financial Services and Securities Act 2010 (opens in a new tab)
Labuan FSA · Legislation
Last reviewed 4 August 2026
Whilst considerable care has been taken to ensure the information contained within this page is accurate and up to date, no warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of any information and no liability is accepted for any errors or omissions in such information. The information given in this page is based on our present understanding of the current laws, guidelines and regulations and may therefore be subject to change without notice.
Ready when you are
Talk to the firm that holds the licence.