Malaysia's trade surplus widened sharply to MYR 15.3 billion in September of 2018 from MYR 8.2 billion in the same month of the prior year and easily beating market expectations of a surplus of MYR 7.3 billion. It was the largest trade surplus since September 2008, as exports rebounded while imports shrank unexpectedly. Year-on-year, exports grew by 6.7 percent to MYR to MYR 83.1 billion, after a 0.3 percent fall in August and slightly above consensus of a 6.5 percent rise. Imports fell unexpectedly by 2.7 percent, missing expectations of a 9.8 percent gain and after a 11.2 percent growth in a month earlier. Considering the first nine months of the year, the trade surplus increased to MYR 85.7 billion from MYR 71.2 billion in the same period 2017. Balance of Trade in Malaysia averaged 3360.31 MYR Million from 1970 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 15767.47 MYR Million in May of 2008 and a record low of -2880.61 MYR Million in June of 1997.

Malaysia Balance of Trade
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Malaysia Trade Surplus Largest in a Decade


Malaysia's trade surplus widened sharply to MYR 15.3 billion in September of 2018 from MYR 8.2 billion in the same month of the prior year and easily beating market expectations of a surplus of MYR 7.3 billion. It was the largest trade surplus since September 2008, as exports rebounded while imports shrank unexpectedly.

Year-on-year, exports rose by 6.7 percent to MYR to MYR 83.1 billion in September 2018, after a 0.3 percent fall in August and slightly above market consensus of a 6.5 percent rise. Sales increased for:  electrical & electronic products (6.5  percent to MYR 32.9 billion, 39.6 percent of total exports); refined petroleum products (20.5 percent to MYR 5.7 billion, 6.8 percent share); crude petroleum (54.5 percent to MYR 2.7 billion, 3.2 percent share); and liquefied natural gas/LNG (1.8 percent to MYR 3.1 billion, 3.8 percent share). In contrast, outbound shipments fell for: palm oil and palm oil-based products (-11.5 percent to MYR 5.6 billion; 6.7 percent of total share);  timber and timber-based products (-0.4 percent to 1.8 billion, 2.1 percent of total share); and natural rubber (-1.9 percent to MYR 306. million, 0.4 percent of total share).

Outbound shipments went up to Singapore (8.7 percent); the US (0.1 percent); and  Hong Kong (48.7 percent), while declined to China (-0.6 percent); and Japan (-10.6 percent).

Imports  fell unexpectedly by 2.7 percent from a year earlier to MYR 67.8 billion,  missing expectations of a 9.8 percent gain and after a 11.2 percent growth in a month earlier.  Purchases of intermediate goods dropped 9.3 percent to MYR 35.8 billion, consisting of 52.8 percent of total imports. The decrease was driven by parts & accessories of capital goods, except transport equipment (-24.1 percent); fuel & lubricants, processed, others (-44.8 percent); and fuel & lubricants, primary (-11.5 percent). Also, imports of capital goods shrank 25.2 percent to MYR 7.3 billion, consisting of 10.7 percent share, due to a drop in both transport equipment, industrial (-86 percent) and capital goods except transport equipment (-13.9 percent). In addition, purchases of consumption goods recorded a 10 percent drop to MYR 573.8 million, consisting of 7.6 percent share. The fall was mainly attributed to semi-durables (-31.4 percent); food & beverages, processed, mainly for household consumption (-6.2 percent) and durables (-12.7 percent).

Considering the first nine months of the year, the trade surplus increased to MYR 85.7 billion from MYR 71.2 billion in the same period 2017. 


Statistics Malaysia l Rida | rida@tradingeconomics.com
11/5/2018 6:19:34 AM


Recent Releases

Malaysia Trade Surplus Smallest in Near 5-1/2 Years
Malaysia's trade surplus narrowed sharply to MYR 1.6 billion in August of 2018 from MYR 9.9 billion in the same month of the prior year and far below market estimates of a MYR 9 billion surplus. It is the smallest trade surplus since April 2013, as exports fell while imports surged.
Published on 2018-10-05

Malaysia August Trade Surplus Largest in 3 Months
Malaysia's trade surplus increased 1.7 percent to MYR 8.3 billion in July of 2018 from MYR 8 billion in the same month of the prior year and far above market estimates of a MYR 6.3 billion surplus. It is the largest trade surplus since April. Exports rose 9.4 year-on-year to MYR 86.1 billion while imports went up 10.3 percent to MYR 77.8 billion.
Published on 2018-09-05

Malaysia June Trade Surplus Smallest in 13 Months
Malaysia's trade surplus slumped 38.9 percent to MYR 6.0 billion in June of 2018 from MYR 9.9 billion in the same month of the prior year and far below market estimates of a MYR 10.16 billion surplus. It is the smallest trade surplus since May last year, mainly due to a surge in imports.
Published on 2018-08-03

Malaysia Trade Surplus Widens Sharply in May
Malaysia's trade surplus jumped 47.1 percent to MYR 8.1 billion in May of 2018 from MYR 5.5 billion in the same month of the prior year but below market estimates of a MYR 11 billion surplus, as exports rose more than imports.
Published on 2018-07-05



Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-09-05 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR8.3B MYR6B MYR6.3B MYR 8.9B
2018-10-05 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR1.6B MYR8.3B MYR9B MYR 8.9B
2018-11-05 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR15.3B MYR1.6B MYR7.3B MYR 7.2B
2018-12-05 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR15.3B MYR15.3B MYR 8.9B


Malaysia Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade 15300.00 1600.00 15767.47 -2880.61 MYR Million [+]
Exports 83049.00 81800.00 86124.50 328.10 MYR Million [+]
Imports 67800.00 80200.00 80200.00 313.60 MYR Million [+]
Current Account 3909.00 14977.00 39982.00 978.00 MYR Million [+]
Current Account to GDP 1.30 3.10 17.10 -13.20 percent [+]
External Debt 936489.00 893408.61 936489.00 9063.00 MYR Million [+]
Terms of Trade 96.50 97.10 117.20 92.50 Index Points [+]
Tourism Revenues 82200.00 82098.20 82200.00 8580.50 MYR Million [+]
Tourist Arrivals 2253534.00 2305324.00 2806565.00 459374.00 [+]
Gold Reserves 37.60 37.60 38.57 35.46 Tonnes [+]
Crude Oil Production 675.00 661.00 791.00 489.00 BBL/D/1K [+]
Terrorism Index 3.33 2.69 3.58 0.00 [+]
Capital Flows 9114.33 15211.07 51408.25 -71566.30 MYR Million [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 2843.00 11980.00 37325.00 2843.00 MYR Million [+]

Exports by Country  |   Exports by Category  |   Imports by Country  |   Imports by Category



Malaysia Balance of Trade

International trade plays a large role in Malaysian economy. Since 1998, Malaysia have been reporting consistent trade surpluses, mainly due to rise in exports of electrical and electronics products. In 2015, the biggest trade surpluses were recorded with Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and United States while the biggest trade deficits with China and Taiwan. . This page provides the latest reported value for - Malaysia Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Malaysia Balance of Trade - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on November of 2018.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
15300.00 1600.00 15767.47 -2880.61 1970 - 2018 MYR Million Monthly




Country Last
Argentina 314.00 Sep/18
Australia 3017.00 Sep/18
Brazil 6121.36 Oct/18
Canada -416.30 Sep/18
China 340.16 Oct/18
Euro Area 11671.20 Aug/18
France -5663.00 Sep/18
Germany 18395.00 Sep/18
India -13980.00 Sep/18
Indonesia 227.10 Sep/18
Italy 2564.00 Aug/18
Japan 139.56 Sep/18
Mexico -194.00 Sep/18
Netherlands 3463.00 Aug/18
Russia 18485.00 Sep/18
Saudi Arabia 162782.00 Jun/18
Singapore 3685.26 Sep/18
South Africa -2950.00 Sep/18
South Korea 6552.00 Oct/18
Spain -3057300.00 Aug/18
Switzerland 1447.00 Sep/18
Turkey -1869.47 Sep/18
United Kingdom -27.00 Sep/18
United States -54019.00 Sep/18


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