Malaysia Breaks Records With RM3.06 Trillion Trade Performance in 2025; MITI and MATRADE Strategies for New Opportunities in 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 JANUARY 2026 (TUESDAY) – The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), in collaboration with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), today hosted an Open Day following the historic announcement of Malaysia’s 2025 trade performance on the 20th January 2026. The event served as a strategic platform for MATRADE to connect with Malaysian business communities, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and foreign trade representatives to celebrate a landmark year and chart the course for 2026.

Malaysia’s total trade in 2025 reached an unprecedented RM3.06 trillion, a 6.3% increase year-on-year, surpassing the RM3 trillion mark for the first time in history. This robust growth was driven by a 6.5% rise in exports to RM1.61 trillion and a 6.2% increase in imports to RM1.45 trillion, resulting in a trade surplus of RM151.80 billion—the 28th consecutive year of positive trade balance since 1998.

"Surpassing the RM3 trillion mark is a historic milestone that underscores the resilience of Malaysia’s trade and export ecosystem. MATRADE's aggressive promotion and diversification into non-traditional markets like Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo, Yemen, Morocco, Algeria, Uzbekistan, Angola, Puerto Rico and Kyrgyzstan have yielded double-digit growth. In 2026, we will continue to empower our MSMEs through customised exporters development and export promotion initiatives to ensure they remain competitive in the global supply chain,” said YB Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Chairman of MATRADE.

"I am proud to say that MATRADE initiatives have proven to be worthwhile.  Our efforts have benefitted over 19,000 companies comprising more than 14,000 SMEs or 74%. All these companies have reported total sales almost RM65 billion. While this currently represents less than 1% of Malaysia’s total exports, we are setting our sights on raising it to 5% over the next five years, a goal we are confident of achieving through focused and strategic actions," he added.

Key Highlights of 2025 Performance

• Sectoral Drivers: The manufacturing sector remained the primary driver, with E&E products and machinery leading growth. Palm oil-based products saw a significant 16.2% increase.

• Market Expansion: Significant export growth was recorded in emerging markets, including Yemen, Algeria, and Puerto Rico, demonstrating the increasing competitiveness of Malaysian goods globally.

• Successful Trade Events: MATRADE’s initiatives, including MIHAS 2025 which recorded a record RM6.05 billion in sales collectively generated RM64.67 billion in export sales through various missions and trade fairs.

Looking Ahead: 2026 Outlook

In 2026, Malaysia’s economy is projected to grow between 4% and 4.5%, supported by resilient domestic demand and robust tourism for Visit Malaysia 2026. To sustain this momentum, MATRADE will organize 18 major trade fairs, including participation in prestigious events like Farnborough International Airshow and SEMICON West for aerospace and E&E industries. 

Furthermore, MATRADE announced the inaugural National Export Award, scheduled for 10 April 2026, to honour the outstanding contributions of Malaysian exporters.

Looking ahead, MITI and MATRADE will continue to focus on trade diversification, export development and digitalisation, in line with the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan (RMK13) and the MADANI Economy Framework, to capitalise on the strong performance achieved in 2025 and shape new trade opportunities in 2026 and beyond.