Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

TRADE PERFORMANCE 2018

Largest Trade Surplus since 2012 as Exports reached almost RM1 trillion in 2018

Supported by stronger than expected export growth, Malaysia’s total trade in 2018 remained resilient, expanding by 5.9% to RM1.876 trillion, compared with RM1.771 trillion in 2017.

Despite the uncertainties in the global environment, exports rose by 6.7% to reach a value of RM998.01 billion, surpassing the forecast export growth of 4.4% in the Economic Outlook 2019. Imports increased by 4.9% to RM877.74 billion.

Malaysia’s trade surplus widened by 22.1% to RM120.27 billion, registering the fastest rate in 10 years and the largest trade surplus since 2012. This was the 21st consecutive year of trade surplus since 1998.

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Trade Performance : December 2018 and January - December 2018

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%.

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Trade Performance : November 2018 and January - November 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%.

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Trade Performance : October 2018 and January - October 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.

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Trade Performance : September 2018 and January - September 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.

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Trade Performance : August 2018 and January - August 2018

July Exports- A New Record High at RM86.12 Billion

Malaysia’s total trade in July 2018 rose 9.8% from a year earlier to reach a value of RM163.95 billion. The expansion was supported mainly by higher trade with China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, ASEAN, India and Saudi Arabia.

Malaysia’s exports in July 2018 registered a new high of RM86.12 billion, increasing by 9.4% year-on-year (y-o-y). Imports also recorded the highest monthly value, expanding by 10.3% to RM77.83 billion. Trade surplus rebounded by 1.7% to RM8.3 billion after a y-o-y decline of 41.1% in June 2018. This was the 249th consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997.

On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, total trade, exports, imports and trade surplus grew by 8.4%, 9.6%, 7.2% and 38.3%, respectively.

For the first 7 months of 2018, total trade expanded by 6.1% to RM1.069 trillion compared to the same period in 2017. Exports accelerated by 7.3% to RM568.72 billion while imports grew at a slower pace of 4.8% to RM499.91 billion. Trade surplus for this period surged by 29.7% to RM68.81 billion compared to the same period last year.

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Trade Performance : July 2018 and January - July 2018

June Exports Rose by 7.6%

Malaysia’s total trade in June 2018 grew by 11% from June 2017 to reach a value of RM151.27 billion. Expansion was supported mainly by higher trade with China, ASEAN, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), the European Union (EU), Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Exports expanded by 7.6% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM78.66 billion, sustaining the positive momentum for 4 straight months, while imports rose by 14.9% to RM72.61 billion. Trade surplus was recorded at RM6.04 billion. This was the 248th consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997.

On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, total trade, exports, imports and trade surplus contracted by 3.1%, 4.2%, 1.9% and 25.5%, respectively.

Total trade in the second quarter of 2018 (Q2 2018) amounted to RM462.84 billion, an expansion of 8% from Q2 2017. Total exports in the quarter reached RM245.01 billion, 8.2% higher compared to the same period last year and imports increased by 7.7% to RM217.83 billion. Trade surplus in Q2 2018 was recorded at RM27.18 billion, a 12.9% increase from RM24.07 billion registered in Q2 2017.

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Trade Performance : June 2018 and January - June 2018

Exports Remained High in May 2018 at RM82.11 Billion

Malaysia’s trade in May 2018 grew by 1.8% to reach a value of RM156.1 billion from May 2017. Expansion in trade were seen with China, Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, the Republic of Korea (ROK), the European Union (EU), Japan and Saudi Arabia.

May 2018 exports remained above the RM80 billion mark, totalling RM82.11 billion, a 3.4% growth compared to May 2017, while imports rose by 0.1% to RM73.99 billion. Export growth continued to outpace import for 5 consecutive months since January 2018. Trade surplus was recorded at RM8.12 billion, an expansion of 47.1% from May 2017 and marked the 247th consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997.

On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, imports and total trade grew by 3.9% and 0.4%, while exports and trade surplus contracted by 2.5% and 37.7%, respectively.

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Trade Performance : May 2018 and January - May 2018

Exports Continued to Grow at a Robust Pace in April

Malaysia’s exports in April 2018 registered a robust growth of 14% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM84.24 billion. This is the second highest monthly exports value after the previous months’ exports of RM84.47 billion. The expansion was supported mainly by higher exports to Hong Kong SAR, ASEAN, China, the European Union (EU), Taiwan, Bangladesh and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Imports expanded by 9.1% y-o-y to RM71.17 billion. Total trade rebounded by 11.7% y-o-y to RM155.42 billion from a decline of 3.5% in March. Trade surplus was recorded at RM13.07 billion, the 246th consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997.

On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, imports and total trade grew by 2% and 0.8%, while exports and trade surplus contracted by 0.3% and 11%, respectively.

Total trade for the first four months of 2018 amounted to RM597.3 billion, rose by 4.9% compared to the same period of 2017. Exports increased by 7.8% to RM321.87 billion while imports were higher by 1.6% to RM275.43 billion. Trade surplus surged by 68.7% to RM46.44 billion compared to the corresponding period of 2017.

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Trade Performance : April 2018 and January - April 2018

March Exports - a New Record High

Malaysia’s exports in March 2018 totalled RM84.47 billion, increasing by 2.2% from March 2017, the highest monthly export value ever recorded. The expansion was supported mainly by higher exports to Hong Kong SAR, the European Union (EU), India, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Taiwan and South Africa.

Imports declined by 9.6% year-on-year to RM69.78 billion. The trade surplus widened to RM14.69 billion, making it the 245th consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997. Total trade amounted to RM154.25 billion, a decrease of 3.5%, y-o-y.

On a month-on-month basis, exports, imports and total trade grew by 20.1%, 13.8% and 17.1%, respectively.

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Trade Performance : March 2018 and January - March 2018

February 2018 trade surplus at RM9.02 billion

Malaysia registered a trade surplus of RM9.02 billion in February 2018, the 244th consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997. Exports amounted to RM70.34 billion, contracted marginally by 2% compared to RM71.79 billion recorded in February 2017. Imports decreased by 2.8% to RM61.32 billion. The contraction in both exports and imports was mainly due to seasonal shorter working days during the Lunar festival.

Total trade in February 2018 amounted to RM131.67 billion, decreased by 2.4% compared to February 2017. Lower trade were registered with ASEAN, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Australia. Expansion in trade however were seen with major trading partners, namely Hong Kong SAR, the European Union (EU), China, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Taiwan.

On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, exports, imports and total trade declined by 15.1%, 16.2% and 15.6%, respectively.

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Trade Performance : February 2018 and January - February 2018

2018 Starts with the Highest January Exports of RM82.86 billion

Malaysia’s trade in January 2018 surged by 14.9% to reach a value of RM156.01 billion from January 2017. Expansion in trade were seen with ASEAN, Hong Kong SAR, the European Union (EU), China, India, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Exports posted a stronger y-o-y growth compared to imports, registering a double digit growth of 17.9% to RM82.86 billion. This was the highest export value ever recorded for the month of January, surpassing RM70.27 billion registered in January 2017. Imports expanded by 11.6% to RM73.15 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of RM9.71 billion. This was the 243rd consecutive month of trade surplus recorded since November 1997.

On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, total trade, exports and imports expanded by 3%, 4.4% and 1.5%, respectively.

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Trade Performance : January 2018