Matrade chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's total trade in 2025 reached its highest value on record, surpassing the RM3 trillion mark at RM3.06 trillion, a 6.3 per cent year-on-year increase, with exports exceeding imports to generate a RM151.80 billion trade surplus.
According to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), the country's exports exceeded RM1 trillion for the fifth consecutive year, rising 6.5 per cent to a record RM1.60 trillion, while It said Malaysia recorded its highest-ever trade, export, and import values, underscoring the nation's resilience and competitiveness amid an increasingly uncertain global trade environment.
"Export growth is underpinned by record-high shipments to traditional trading partners, namely ASEAN, the United States, Taiwan and the European Union, reflecting Malaysia's strong integration into high-value, technology-driven global supply chains.
"Exports to China expanded at a more moderate pace," it said in a statement today.
Commenting on the trade performance, MATRADE chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said in a statement: “The robust growth in 2025, particularly in emerging markets and with Free Trade Agreement (FTAs) partners, was significantly bolstered by high-level diplomatic official visits by the Prime Minister to regions such as Africa, Latin America and Central Asia that have paved the way for deeper economic ties and expanded market access.”
MATRADE said that Malaysia's extensive network of FTAs, including major regional frameworks such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), continued to facilitate market access, diversify export destinations and mitigate trade risks.
It said that by leveraging these agreements, exports remained on an upward trend, with Hong Kong, Mexico and Canada recording new highs, supported by broad-based growth across a wide range of products.
"This performance was achieved despite rising global uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions, supply chain realignments and rising risks of protectionism," it said.
Meanwhile, December 2025 emerged as the highest monthly trade for exports and imports, with imports expanding by 12.0 per cent to RM133.68 billion compared to the corresponding month last year.
MATRADE said the import of intermediate goods grew by 3.6 per cent to RM63.16 billion. In comparison, imports of capital goods fell by 11.8 per cent to RM15.31 billion, while imports of consumption goods rose by 27.6 per cent to RM13.10 billion.
On a quarterly basis, trade in the fourth quarter (4Q) of 2025 rose 11.7 per cent to RM826.65 billion compared to the previous Exports increased by 11.0 per cent to RM436.22 billion, and imports rose 12.6 per cent to RM390.44 billion.
Regarding the outlook for 2026, MATRADE said Malaysia's trade is expected to expand at a moderate pace, consistent with the global trade outlook published by the World Trade Organisation, which projects world merchandise trade volume to grow by 0.5 per cent.
"The outlook remains subject to downside risks arising from trade-restrictive measures, geopolitical tensions, policy uncertainty and weaker global demand conditions," it added.
Meanwhile, Matrade CEO Abu Bakar Yusof said moving forward, Matrade remains focused on empowering Malaysian exporters, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises, to seize new opportunities across the globe.
“We will continue to intensify our export promotion and development programmes, ensuring that Malaysian products and services successfully expand into new export markets.”
“Our goal is to empower local businesses to navigate supply chain realignments and protectionist risks by leveraging our extensive global network and FTAs. We remain focused on empowering Malaysian exporters, particularly MSMEs, to seize new opportunities across the globe." - Agencies
