KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's total trade in 2025 rose 6.3% over the previous year to RM3.061 trillion, a record level underpinned by an increase in both export and import values, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti).
In December 2025 alone, the country recorded trade growth of 11.1% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM286.63bil. Exports in December surged 10.4% to RM152.95bil while imports gained 12% to RM133.68bil. The trade surplus for the month was RM19.28bil.
With the value of exports outpacing that of imports in 2025, the country registered a trade surplus of RM151.8bil, which marked a 28th consecutive year of surplus since 1998.
On an annual basis, Miti reported the country's exports rose 6.5% to a record RM1.607 trillion as outbound shipments of electrical and electronics (E&E) goods continued to grow.
The growth was largely driven by strong demand for electronic integrated circuits (ICs), which surged 24.3% to RM389.15bil, supported by the rapid global adoption of advanced technology chips and growing digitalisation trends, including AI and automation.
Apart from manufacturing, exports of ariculture products grew 5.7% to RM111.77bil, with exports of palm oil and palm oil-based agriculture products making up about three-quarters of total agriculture exports.
Imports, meanwhile, grew 6.2% to a record RM1.455 trillion.
The import value of intermediate goods contracted 3.8% to RM720.78bil due to lower imports of industrial supplies.
Capital goods imports rose 29.1% to RM214.48bil on higher imports of non-transport capital goods, while imports of consumption goods edged 2.3% higher on increased imports of durables.
Looking at export destinations, China remained Malaysia's largest trading partner with exports rebounding 0.6% y-o-y to RM188.88bil due to the pick up in higher shipments of E&E products, metalliferous ores and metal scrap as well as palm oil-based manufactured products.
Imports from China grew 19.1% to RM353.03bil with major imports comprising E&E products, machinery, equipment and parts as well as chemicals and chemical products.
As for the US, exports expanded 17.2% to a new high of RM233.08bil while imports rose 6.4% to RM134.39bil.
Malaysia also saw an increase in shipments to its three highest-value export markets in Asean - Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - which make up more than 80% export market share.
The country's exports to Singapore rose 8.1% to RM249.55bil in 2025. It expanded 8.6% to RM64.08bil for Thailand and 2.6% to RM55.24bil for Vietnam.
