GEORGETOWN: Malaysia’s total trade expanded to RM3.1 trillion last year, comprising RM1.6 trillion in exports and RM1.5 trillion in imports, with Penang continuing to lead the export performance, according to the Statistics Department.
Penang accounted for 38.1% of Malaysia’s total exports, followed by Johor (19.8%), Selangor (17%), Sarawak (6.4%) and Kuala Lumpur (3.7%), said chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin after releasing the Malaysia External Trade Statistics by State 2026 report yesterday.
“Strong export growth was driven by electronic integrated circuits and other electrical and electronic products, particularly in Penang, Selangor and Johor.
“Refined petroleum products contributed to exports in Johor, while palm oil was among the key contributors to exports in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
Mohd Uzir said the report also showed that Malaysia’s Trade Openness Index (TOI) rose to 151 in 2025 from 149 in the previous year, reflecting stronger integration between trade and the economy.
He noted that Penang recorded the highest TOI at 575.1 in 2024, up from 540.6 in 2023, followed by Johor at 332.1 and Kedah at 234.2, the only states to surpass the national level.
The TOI measures the degree of dependence of global trade in goods on the economy, while the index can be used to analyse trade patterns and the importance of trade to the economy, he said. — Bernama
