Imports fell 12.5% in August, exports down 0.8%

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian imports fell by the most since 2009 in August as demand for capital goods waned, suggesting the nation’s economic growth will cool in the months ahead.

Imports slid 12.5% in August from a year ago, trailing the 8% drop forecast by economists in a Bloomberg survey, according to official data released yesterday. Exports shrank 0.8%, missing analysts’ estimates for a 2.7% gain.