Trade Performance 2019
Trade Performance : December 2019 and January - December 2019
TRADE PERFORMANCE 2019
22nd Consecutive Year of Trade Surplus
In 2019, Malaysia’s trade surplus continued to register double-digit growth for 3 consecutive years, widening by 11% to RM137.39 billion compared to RM123.78 billion in 2018. This was the largest trade surplus since 2009, representing Malaysia’s achievement of 22nd consecutive year of trade surplus.
In tandem with softer global demand amid trade tensions and unfavourable external economic conditions, total trade contracted by 2.5% to RM1.835 trillion. Exports decreased marginally by 1.7% to RM986.4 billion, from the preceding year while imports declined by 3.5% to RM849.01 billion.
Lower trade was recorded with Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, France, Thailand and Japan. Nevertheless, higher trade was registered with the United States (US), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Philippines, Cambodia, Mexico and the United Kingdom (UK).
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Trade Performance : December 2019 and January - December 2019
Trade Performance : November 2019 and January - November 2019
Largest Trade Surplus for the Period of January to November Since 2009
Malaysia’s trade surplus in January to November 2019 was valued at RM124.74 billion, expanded by 10.6% compared to RM112.82 billion registered for the same period of 2018. This was the largest trade surplus recorded for the period of January to November since 2009.
Against the backdrop of challenging global economic conditions and ongoing trade tensions, Malaysia’s total trade over the past 11 months declined by 3% to RM1.675 trillion. Lower trade was recorded with Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, France, Japan and Thailand. Meanwhile, higher trade was registered with the United States (US), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Philippines and the United Kingdom (UK). Exports during this period registered a decrease of 2.1% to RM899.93 billion and imports contracted by 3.9% to RM775.19 billion.
Total trade in November 2019 decreased by 4.6% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM155.06 billion. Lower trade was recorded with Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Thailand, Taiwan and France while higher trade was registered with China, the US, the UAE and the UK. Exports totalled RM80.8 billion, contracted by 5.5% and imports amounted to RM74.26 billion, a decline of 3.6%.
Trade surplus in November 2019 was valued at RM6.54 billion, dipped by 23.1% as opposed to RM8.5 billion registered in November 2018. November trade surplus marked the 265th consecutive months of surplus since November 1997.
Compared to October 2019, Malaysia’s imports logged a growth of 1.4% while exports, total trade and trade surplus declined by 10.8%, 5.4% and 62.3%, respectively.
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Trade Performance : November 2019 and January - November 2019
Trade Performance : September 2019 and January - September 2019
January-September 2019 Trade Surplus Highest in the Decade
Malaysia’s trade surplus in January to September 2019 was valued at RM100.86 billion, expanded by 15.3% compared to RM87.47 billion registered for the same period of 2018. This was the largest January-September trade surplus recorded in the last 10 years.
In tandem with subdued external demand and global challenges, total trade in the first nine months of 2019 decreased by 2.2% to RM1.356 trillion. Lower trade was recorded with Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, France and Japan. Higher trade however was registered with the United States (US), Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. Exports during the period registered a decrease of 1.1% to RM728.52 billion while imports contracted by 3.3% to RM627.66 billion.
Total trade in September 2019 stood at RM147.07 billion, decreased by 2.7% year-on-year (y-o-y). Lower trade was recorded with Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, Australia, Thailand and the Netherlands. However, higher trade was registered with China, India, the Republic of Korea (ROK), the US and Saudi Arabia. Exports decreased by 6.8% to RM77.7 billion. Imports amounted to RM69.37 billion, an increase of 2.4% from September 2018.
Trade surplus in September 2019 was valued at RM8.34 billion, declined by 46.5% compared to September 2018. This marked the 263rd consecutive months of trade surplus since November 1997.
On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, total trade, exports, imports and trade surplus registered a decline of 3.1%, 4.5%, 1.6% and 23.5%, respectively.
Total trade in the third quarter (Q3) of 2019 contracted by 3.7% to RM460.53 billion compared to Q3 2018. Total exports reached RM247.02 billion, 1.9% lower from the same period last year while imports contracted by 5.8% to RM213.51 billion. Trade surplus in Q3 2019 recorded a double-digit increase of 33.3% to RM33.51 billion from RM25.14 billion registered in Q3 2018.
Compared with the second quarter (Q2) of 2019, total trade, exports and trade surplus increased by 0.01%, 0.6% and 10.2% respectively, while imports slipped by 0.7%.
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Trade Performance : September 2019 and January - September 2019
Trade Performance : October 2019 and January - October 2019
Highest Monthly Export Value in 2019
Malaysia’s exports in October 2019 stood at RM90.59 billion, the highest monthly export value recorded in 2019. Exports contracted by 6.7% year-on-year (y-o-y) due to high base effect of RM97.12 billion in October 2018. Higher exports were registered to Singapore, Taiwan, the United States (US) and Russian Federation while lower exports were recorded to Australia, China, Japan, Thailand and India.
Total trade decreased by 7.6% to RM163.86 billion and imports amounted to RM73.27 billion, a decline of 8.7% from October 2018. Trade surplus in October 2019 was valued at RM17.33 billion, rose by 2.8% compared to RM16.85 billion registered in October 2018. This marked the 264th consecutive months of trade surplus since November 1997 and the highest monthly surplus ever recorded thus far.
Compared to September 2019, total trade, exports, imports and trade surplus registered an increase of 11.4%, 16.6%, 5.6% and 107.4%, respectively.
Total trade in the first 10 months of 2019 declined by 2.8% to RM1.52 trillion. Exports during this period registered a decrease of 1.8% to RM819.13 billion. Lower exports were recorded to Hong Kong SAR, Australia, Japan, Indonesia and China. Higher exports however were registered to Taiwan, the US, India and the Philippines. Imports contracted by 3.9% to RM700.93 billion. Moreover, trade surplus expanded by 13.3% to RM118.2 billion and marked the highest trade surplus for January-October since 2009.
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Trade Performance : August 2019 and January - August 2019
Trade Surplus Sustained Above RM10 Billion
Malaysia’s trade surplus in August 2019 was valued at RM10.92 billion, surged by 655.2% compared to August 2018 and marked the 262nd consecutive months of trade surplus since November 1997.
Exports slipped by 0.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM81.36 billion. Lower exports were recorded to Hong Kong SAR, Australia, Taiwan, China, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and ASEAN. Meanwhile, increases in exports were registered to Bangladesh, India, the United States (US) and the European Union (EU).
Imports amounted to RM70.43 billion, a contraction of 12.5% from August 2018. Total trade was valued at RM151.79 billion, lower by 6.6% y-o-y.
On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, total trade, exports, imports and trade surplus registered a decline of 6.1%, 7.5%, 4.4% and 23.5%, respectively.
For the first 8 months of 2019, total trade stood at RM1.209 trillion, declining by 2.1% compared to the same period of 2018. Exports amounted to RM650.81 billion, decreased marginally by 0.4% while imports contracted by 4% to RM558.26 billion. Trade surplus increased by 28.7% to RM92.55 billion.
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