Portal Rasmi Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, 21 May 2026 – Malaysia's external trade hit the RM1 trillion accelerator at record speed in 2026, crossing the milestone in just four months, the fastest pace in the nation’s history. Driven by surging demand for high-growth, high-value (HGHV) products and a deliberate strategy of market diversification, Malaysia has demonstrated extraordinary external sector resilience even amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia.
Total trade expanded by 15.3% year-on-year to RM1.127 trillion, with exports surging 19.0% to RM609.31 billion and imports rising 11.1% to RM517.40 billion, marking the highest-ever recorded values for this period. This resulted in a trade surplus of RM91.92 billion, a staggering 99.1% surge that effectively doubled the previous year's performance.
The month of April 2026 alone delivered exceptional results, with monthly exports climbing 36.9% to RM182.74 billion and the monthly trade surplus soaring 460.5% to RM28.75 billion, underscoring the momentum driving Malaysia’s trade engine. The trade figures represent the highest values ever recorded in Malaysia's trade history, setting a new standard for the nation’s economic performance.
The export expansion in January to April 2026 was anchored by robust demand for Electrical & Electronic (E&E) products, which grew by RM71 billion or 32.1%, propelled by a global semiconductor boom fuelled by artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, cloud computing, and data centre expansion. Crucially, Malaysia has cemented its position in the global AI value chain, with exports of AI-enabling products surging 42.9% to RM319.05 billion, now commanding over half (52.4%) of the nation's total exports. This performance is measured against the WTO’s strategic classification, which identifies these goods as the foundational hardware and critical inputs essential for the development and deployment of global artificial intelligence.
Pharmaceutical and automotive products added further dimension to the HGHV narrative, posting double-digit growth of 21.9% and 10.3% respectively. This performance aligns with the 13th Malaysia Plan’s strategic prioritisation of HGHV industries, including semiconductors, energy transition technologies, and digital economy-driven sectors.
Commenting on this performance, MATRADE Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Abu Bakar Yusof stated “Our edge lies in the value we export, not merely the quantity. The surge in AI-enabling products and semiconductor exports affirms that our industries are deeply embedded in the technology supply chains shaping the global economy. MATRADE remains committed to guiding Malaysian exporters and SMEs up the value chain, ensuring we capture not just markets, but the highest-value opportunities within them.”
Export performance was underpinned by broad-based demand across both traditional partners and emerging markets. Exports to the United States grew 32.5%, Taiwan (+68.9%), Hong Kong SAR (+43.0%), China (+18.7%), the European Union (+23.9%), and ASEAN (+8.6%), largely catalysed by E&E shipments. Exports to FTA partners expanded 14.2% to RM390.09 billion, with 17 of 24 FTA nations registering positive gains, among others are the Republic of Korea, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Most notably, Malaysia’s trade diversification has moved into a high-growth phase that extends well beyond its traditional pillars. Emerging markets registered exponential growth, with Democratic Republic of Congo (+196.6%), Sudan (+223.1%), Zimbabwe (+220.5%), Bulgaria (+141.6%), Haiti (+103.5%), Ethiopia (+88.1%) and Uzbekistan (+29.7%) leading the surge, reflecting a systematic expansion of Malaysia’s trade footprint into high-growth, underserved markets across Africa and Eastern Europe. The trade momentum was further powered by established high-value markets across the Oceania-UK axis and Latin America, ensuring that Malaysia’s record-breaking momentum is supported by a broad and balanced global footprint.
“Our diversification strategy is on the right track. While our core markets remain strong, the exponential growth we are seeing in frontier economies from Africa, Latin America to Eastern Europe; signals that Malaysian exporters are confidently opening new frontiers. In an era of global trade uncertainty, this geographical resilience is not just strategic prudence. We are moving beyond traditional markets to ensure Malaysia remains indispensable to the global supply chain,” Abu Bakar added.
Ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia posed headwinds for trade flows into the region, with exports contracting 15.8% to RM14.08 billion. Primary destinations including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and Qatar faced disruptions from regional instability. However, Malaysia demonstrated strategic agility by redirecting trade toward other peripheral markets, with Bahrain surging 131.5%, Syria (+74.3%), Jordan (+11.2%), and Cyprus (+230.7%), partially absorbing the regional impact.
Malaysia's trade trajectory for 2026 remains robust. The convergence of HGHV sector momentum, targeted market diversification, and strategic adaptability in the face of geopolitical uncertainty positions Malaysia as a confident and resilient player in the global trade landscape. MATRADE will continue to support Malaysian exporters in capturing emerging opportunities, leveraging trade agreements, and embedding themselves firmly in the high-value segments of the global supply chains. Through its Trade Resilient Taskforce, MATRADE remains in constant, direct engagement with industry to monitor and mitigate the impacts of geopolitical tensions and rising costs, ensuring that Malaysian exporters are never left to navigate global volatility alone.
