Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

21st Consecutive Year of Trade Surplus

Malaysia’s trade remained steady in November 2018, growing by 3.2% to RM162.03 billion compared to the same month last year. Higher trade was seen with ASEAN, Taiwan, France, Hong Kong SAR, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russian Federation, India and Qatar.

Exports posted a growth of 1.6% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM84.79 billion in November 2018, while imports were up by 5% to RM77.24 billion. This resulted in a 24% contraction in trade surplus to RM7.55 billion. This surplus marked the 253rd consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997.

On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, total trade, exports and imports were lower by 8.2%, 12% and 3.5%, respectively. Trade surplus narrowed by 53.7%.

Download PDF:

Trade Performance : November 2018 and January - November 2018

Trade Surplus at RM15.26 Billion, Highest Since October 2008

Malaysia registered a total trade of RM150.83 billion in September 2018, an increase of 2.3% from RM147.51 billion in September 2017. Expansion in trade were seen with major trading partners, namely Hong Kong SAR, ASEAN, Taiwan, Australia, Saudi Arabia and the United States of America (USA).

On a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, exports in September 2018 expanded by 6.7% to RM83.05 billion, sustaining a monthly value above RM80 billion. Malaysia’s imports declined by 2.7% to RM67.78 billion. Trade surplus posted a double-digit increment of 85.9%, amounting to RM15.26 billion, the largest trade surplus ever recorded since October 2008. This surplus marked the 251st consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997.

On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, exports and trade surplus expanded by 1.5% and 846.3%, respectively. Total trade and imports however contracted by 6.9% and 15.5%, respectively.

Total trade in the third quarter of 2018 (Q3 2018) amounted to RM476.82 billion, an expansion of 5.7% from Q3 2017. Total exports in the quarter reached RM251.01 billion, 5.2% higher compared to the same period last year while imports increased by 6.3% to RM225.81 billion. Trade surplus in Q3 2018 was recorded at RM25.2 billion, lower by 4.1% from RM26.28 billion registered in Q3 2017.

Compared with Q2 2018, total trade, exports and imports increased by 3%, 2.5% and 3.7% respectively, while trade surplus contracted by 7.1%.

For the first 9 months of 2018, total trade expanded by 5.5% to RM1.382 trillion compared to the same period in 2017. Exports increased by 6.3% to RM733.61 billion while imports grew at a slower pace of 4.7% to RM647.89 billion. Trade surplus for this period rose by 20.4% to RM85.72 billion compared to the same period last year.

Download PDF:

Trade Performance : September 2018 and January - September 2018

October Exports Reached a New High, Breaching RM90 billion

Malaysia’s trade continued its positive growth momentum in October 2018, expanding by 14.8% to RM176.43 billion compared to the same month last year. Higher trade was seen with ASEAN, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, Australia, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Saudi Arabia, the United States of America (USA), India and the European Union (EU).

Exports in October 2018 recorded a new milestone, breaching RM90 billion for the first time. Exports recorded the highest monthly value of RM96.38 billion, an increase of 17.7% year-on-year (y-o-y), outpacing import growth for two consecutive months. Imports rebounded by 11.4% to RM80.05 billion from a decline of 2.8% in September 2018.

Trade surplus widened by 63.1% to RM16.32 billion, the largest trade surplus ever recorded thus far. This surplus marked the 252nd consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997.

On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, exports, imports and total trade were recorded a double-digit growth of 16.2%, 18.2% and 17.1%, respectively. Trade surplus increased by 7.2%.

Download PDF:

Trade Performance : October 2018 and January - October 2018

Exports Sustained Above RM80 Billion Mark

Malaysia registered a total trade of RM162.01 billion in August 2018, a steady increase of 5.1% from RM154.14 billion in August 2017. Expansion in trade were seen with major trading partners, namely China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea (ROK), ASEAN, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU).

Exports in August 2018 remained above RM80 billion mark, totalling RM81.81 billion, a marginal contraction of 0.3% from RM82.02 billion recorded in the same month last year. Malaysia’s imports recorded a new high of RM80.2 billion, increasing by 11.2% year-on-year (y-o-y). This resulted in a 83.7% contraction in trade surplus to RM1.61 billion. This trade surplus marked the 250th consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997.

On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, imports expanded by 3% while total trade, exports and trade surplus contracted by 1.2%, 5% and 80.7%, respectively.

For the first 8 months of 2018, total trade expanded by 6% to RM1.231 trillion compared to the same period in 2017. Exports increased by 6.3% to RM650.56 billion while imports grew at a slower pace of 5.6% to RM580.11 billion. Trade surplus for this period rose by 11.9% to RM70.45 billion compared to the same period last year.

Download PDF:

Trade Performance : August 2018 and January - August 2018