KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded a higher total trade value of RM272.95bil in March 2026, a 9.3% increase over the same month in 2025, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) data showed.
This was underpinned by exports that rose 8.3% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM148.75bil, and imports that rose 10.4% to RM124.2bil. The trade surplus, meanwhile, came to RM24.55bil, representing a 71st consecutive month of surplus since May 2020.
On a quarterly basis, Malaysia's trade expanded 10.4% to RM789.85bil compared with the first quarter of 2025. Exports during the January-March period rose 12.7% to RM426.53bil while imports increased 7.7% to RM363.31bil, resulting in a trade surplus of RM63.22bil.
Shipments of major exports that were seen increasing in March included electrical and electronics, up 15% y-o-y to RM71.67bil.
Exports of petroleum products jumped 23.7% to RM9.27bil, while manufactures of metal rose 21.2% to RM6.77bil, and optical and scientific equipment surged 29.3% to RM6.66bil.
Outbound shipments of machinery, equipment and parts rose 2.4% to RM7.22bil.
Of Malaysia's major trading partners, China, the US and Taiwan experienced double-digit growth in trading values.
Trade with China jumped 19.6% to RM49.04bil with exports increasing 7% to RM17.25bil due to robust exports of E&E products as well as metalliferous ores and metal scrap.
Exports to the US expanded 18.3% y-o-y to RM26.82bil while total trade increased 16.7% y-o-y to RM36.24bil.
Taiwan recorded the biggest percentage increase in trade with Malaysia as exports surged 46% to RM10.06bil as a result of higher demand for E&E products, optical and scientific equipment as well as machinery, equipment and parts. Overall trade with Taiwan jumped 24.9% to RM22.53bil.
Malaysia registered a a 24.7% y-o-y increase in the import of capital goods in March to RM16.26bil. Intermediate goods imports decreased 1.1% to RM58.3bil while consumption goods contracted 7.8% to RM8.97bil.
