KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s total trade rose 24.7% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM2.16 trillion in the first seven months of 2026, according to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).
In a statement, MATRADE said exports increased 29.2% to RM1.165 trillion, crossing the RM1 trillion mark a month earlier than in 2025.
The trade surplus more than doubled to RM170.50bil, extending Malaysia’s run of monthly trade surpluses to 75 consecutive months since May 2020.
Electrical and electronics (E&E) products remained the main contributor to exports, accounting for RM563.65bil, or 48.4% of total exports, supported by demand for semiconductors, artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centres.
Exports to Asean amounted to RM315.67bil, up 20.3% y-o-y, while shipments to the United States surged 58.3% to RM206.59bil.
Exports to China increased 24.3% to RM127.87bil, while those to the European Union rose 29.8% to RM90.73bil and Taiwan climbed 71.4% to RM80.81bil.
MATRADE chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the agency was focused on translating market opportunities into commercial outcomes for Malaysian exporters.
“The responsibility of the Board of Directors and the entire team at MATRADE goes beyond celebrating trade milestones; it is about ensuring our core mandates deliver tangible market access,” he said.
"The success of our recent Export Acceleration Mission (EAM) to Cambodia, which achieved RM186mil in sales against an RM100mil KPI, proves that targeted strategies, precise market intelligence, and sustained support build true resilience for our exporters internationally," he added.
The mission involved 26 Malaysian companies across the food and beverage, fast-moving consumer goods, automotive components and lifestyle sectors. It facilitated 260 business-to-business matchmaking sessions and generated 130 trade inquiries.
MATRADE also announced the appointment of Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president Jacob Lee Chor Kok to its board of directors.
The agency said it is also advancing the Malaysia-China Gateway Initiative and preparing for the Malaysia International Halal Showcase 2026, which will be held from Sept 23 to 26.
