KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has continued to record encouraging trade performance despite facing global uncertainty, which includes tariff revisions and international trade restrictions, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
The challenges also included disruptions to major trade routes, such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which began in late February 2026, it noted.
As a reflection of the resilience of the country’s trade sector, MITI said, total trade increased by 27 per cent to RM2.514 trillion for the January-August 2026 period, supported by growth in both exports and imports.
"Nevertheless, MITI and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) are adopting an integrated and future-ready approach in collaboration with all stakeholders to improve export performance and ensure that Malaysian products continue to be competitive in international markets,” it said in a written reply published on the Parliament website.
The ministry was responding to a question from Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) who wanted to know the ministry’s strategies to help Malaysian exporters cope with tariff revisions and international trade restrictions, including any effort to diversify markets and provide targeted assistance to small and medium enterprises.
MITI said one of the key measures was to strengthen coordination through the Export Coordination Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government, which has approved a total of 283 export promotion programmes organised by various ministries and agencies in 2026.
One of the committee’s main objectives is to achieve a national export target of RM2.09 trillion by 2030, as outlined in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and the National Trade Blueprint.
"Non-traditional markets in Africa, West Asia, Central Asia and Latin America, which have substantial middle-class populations, have been identified as key target markets.
"For that purpose, MATRADE’s offices in these regions will play a more active role in facilitating business matching, sharing the latest information on the market requirements of importing countries, and helping companies develop marketing strategies suited to local business environments,” MITI said.
It noted that from January to August 2026, trade with these regions collectively increased by 18.5 per cent to RM59.16 billion.
New markets that recorded significant export growth included Namibia, which saw a 430.6 per cent surge, Angola (215.4 per cent), Ethiopia (51.2 per cent), Tanzania (50.2 per cent) and Brazil (27.5 per cent).
On specific measures to help micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) involved in international trade, MITI said they include export protection measures and emergency assistance to ease cash flow pressures and ensure business operations can continue without disruption.
Among the assistance programmes is the Malaysia Global Connect (MGC) Go Export Cover, which offers a 30 per cent incentive on takaful contribution costs, with coverage of up to RM250,000, to protect exports against commercial and political risks.
"In addition, the Export Leap Scheme has been introduced, comprising (Islamic financing products with a one per cent subsidised annual profit rate for a tenure of up to seven years to enhance the ability of local companies to compete in international markets,” it said.
MITI said the government is confident these measures can help mitigate the negative impact of tariff revisions and the global economic uncertainty, while strengthening the competitiveness of local companies, opening up new market opportunities and enhancing the resilience of the national economy. - Bernama
