KUALA LUMPUR: The country’s exports surpassed RM200bil for the first time in September, surging 54.5% year-on-year (y-o-y) to a record RM215.11bil, marking the fastest growth since April 2021.
The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) said the achievement was part of a broader expansion in Malaysia’s external trade, with total trade increasing 53.7% y-o-y to RM396.5bil, while imports rose 52.7% to RM181.39bil, based on data from the Statistics Department.
Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of RM33.72bil in September, extending its surplus streak to 77 consecutive months since May 2020.
“The positive trade momentum from January to September 2026 aligns with a favourable outlook for the country’s external trade and economic growth.
“According to the Finance Ministry’s Economic Outlook 2027, total trade is projected to grow 27.2% in 2026, with exports increasing by 31% and imports rising by 23.1%,” it said in a statement.
For the January-September 2026 period, Miti said the country’s trade performance reached new heights, with total trade rising 30.1% y-o-y to RM2.91 trillion, while exports grew 34% to RM1.57 trillion.
Meanwhile, imports increased 25.7% to RM1.34 trillion, resulting in a trade surplus of RM232.38bil, which expanded 115.7% compared with the corresponding period last year.
According to Miti, Malaysia also recorded encouraging growth across its major export markets, with exports to Asean rising 46.2% to a record RM59.55bil.
Exports to the United States surged 89.9% to RM38.03bil, while shipments to Taiwan more than doubled to RM21.45bil, an increase of 175.2%, marking the highest monthly export value recorded for the market.
Trade with Malaysia’s free trade agreement or FTA partners also strengthened, with total trade increasing 53.1% y-o-y to RM261.73bil in September while exports rose 42% to RM130.78bil.
Amid shifting trade policies among major economies and geopolitical tensions, Miti said the ministry and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp would continue to assess global developments, strengthen market diversification, expand access to high-growth markets and help Malaysian exporters adapt to evolving trade conditions. — Bernama
