Exports expected to contract 5.1% in January

China factor: Malaysia’s exports to China have grown rapidly over the last few years, with China’s share of Malaysian exports rising from 3.1% in 2000 to 14.1%.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s imports and exports are expected to have contracted by 6.6% and 5.1% respectively in January, resulting in a RM12.bil trade surplus for the month, said RAM Ratings.

The rating agency said that this was largely due to seasonally subdued regional industrial activity during the lunar new year festivities.