High oil prices can improve Malaysia's trade balance

PETALING JAYA: While higher oil prices could stunt economic growth and increase inflation, Malaysia could positively gain in terms of improving trade balance, according to Maybank IB Research.

“Malaysia, being the only net oil exporter within Asean-5 major, is in a saver spot. While higher oil prices are negative on growth and inflation, we estimate 0.7 percentage point (ppt) off Malaysia’s real gross domestic product growth and higher inflation by 0.6 ppt for every US$10 per barrel higher crude oil prices above our base case forecasts, on a full year basis.