KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s trade performance hit record highs for January–August 2025, with total trade up 3.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM1.977 trillion.
The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) said exports rose 3.9% to RM1.032 trillion, surpassing the RM1 trillion mark a month earlier than in 2024, while imports grew 3.6% to RM945.62bil, resulting in a trade surplus of RM86.07bil.
In August 2025, trade slipped 1.9% y-o-y to RM247.07bil amid shifting global conditions, but exports climbed for a second straight month, up 1.9% to RM131.6bil.
“Imports, on the other hand, declined by 5.9% to RM115.47bil. This resulted in a trade surplus of RM16.13bil, marking the 64th consecutive month of trade surplus since May 2020, an increase of 153.8% compared to August 2024,” MITI said.
Export growth in August 2025 was underpinned by stronger performances in both manufactured and agricultural goods, with the latter rebounding from July’s decline.
The expansion was led by electrical and electronic (E&E) products, followed by machinery, equipment and parts, optical and scientific instruments, as well as palm oil and palm oil-based products.
Notably, exports of optical and scientific instruments reached an all-time high.
“While Malaysia’s overall trade performance remained resilient from January to August 2025, exporters are strongly encouraged to improve and diversify their product offerings, as well as strengthen supply chain efficiencies to mitigate the transitional effects of shifts in trade policies and uncertainties in the global trading landscape.
