Malaysia's trade surplus increased to MYR 11.1 billion in February of 2019 from MYR 9.0 billion in the same month of the prior year and beating market expectations of a MYR 10.4 billion surplus. Exports went down 5.3 percent to MYR 66.6 billion, missing market consensus of a 1.4 percent increase, mainly due to sales of palm oil and palm oil-based products and refined petroleum products. Meantime, imports decreased 9.4 percent to MYR 55.5 billion, the most since April 2016 and worse than market estimates of a 0.6 percent fall, as purchases of intermediate, consumption and capital goods dropped. Considering the first two months of the year, the trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 22.6 billion, compared with a surplus of USD 18.7 billion in the same period of 2018. Balance of Trade in Malaysia averaged 3429.09 MYR Million from 1970 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 16313.37 MYR Million in October of 2018 and a record low of -2880.61 MYR Million in June of 1997.

Balance of Trade in Malaysia is expected to be 6600.00 MYR Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Balance of Trade in Malaysia to stand at 16500.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Malaysia Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 12200.00 MYR Million in 2020, according to our econometric models.

Malaysia Balance of Trade
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Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2019-01-04 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR7.6B MYR16.3B MYR11.5B MYR15B
2019-01-30 09:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR10.4B MYR7.8B MYR7.4B MYR9.6B
2019-03-04 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR11.5B MYR10.4B MYR9.2B MYR9B
2019-04-04 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR11.1B MYR11.5B MYR10.4B MYR9B
2019-05-03 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR11.1B
2019-06-03 04:00 AM Balance of Trade
2019-07-04 04:00 AM Balance of Trade



Malaysia Trade Surplus Widens in February

Malaysia's trade surplus increased to MYR 11.1 billion in February of 2019 from MYR 9.0 billion in the same month of the prior year and beating market expectations of a MYR 10.4 billion surplus. Exports went down 5.3 percent to MYR 66.6 billion, missing market consensus of a 1.4 percent increase. Meantime, imports decreased 9.4 percent to MYR 55.5 billion, the most since April 2016 and worse than market estimates of a 0.6 percent fall.

Year-on-year, exports unexpectedly fell by 5.3 percent to MYR 66.6 billion in February 2019, after a 3.1 percent rise in January and missing market consensus of a 1.4 percent gain. Sales decreased for palm oil & palm oil-based products (-13.4 percent to MYR 4.7 billion); refined petroleum products (-30.9 percent to MYR 3.6 billion); crude petroleum (-21.8 percent to MYR 1.9 billion); timber & timber-based products (-1.7 percent to MYR 1.4 billion) and natural rubber (-23.1 percent to MYR 0.2 billion). By contrast, outbound shipments increased for electrical & electronic products (4.9 percent to MYR 25.8 billion) and liquefied natural gas/LNG (8.6 percent to MYR 3.1 billion). 
 
Outbound shipments went down to China (-1.6 percent); the US (-8.9 percent); and Singapore (-2.9 percent) amid slower demand of manufactures of metal, transport equipment and optical and scientific equipment
 
Imports to Malaysia dropped by 9.4 percent year-on-year to USD 55.5 billion in February 2019, the most since April 2016, worse than market consensus of a 0.6 percent fall and following a 1 percent rise in the previous month. Purchases fell for intermediate goods (-2.8 percent), mainly driven by industrial supplies processed (-7.4 percent), other fuel & lubricants processed (-43.3 percent) and parts & accessories of capital goods except transport equipment (-5.3 percent). Also, imports declined for consumption goods (-11.6 percent), namely semi-durables (-16.8 percent) and durables (-26.8 percent); and capital (-14.9 percent), of which industrial transport equipment (-51.5 percent).

By country, imports went down from China (-27 percent), as sales of electrical & electronic products (-18.9 percent) and refined petroleum products (-73.4 percent) fell the most; and  Singapore (-17.2 percent), dragged by refined petroleum products (-35.1 percent) and aluminium (-96.6 percent).
 
Considering the first two months of the year, the trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 22.6 billion, compared with a surplus of USD 18.7 billion in the same period of 2018.

Malaysia’s total trade is projected to grow moderately by 5 percent in 2019 from 5.9 percent in 2018 due to uncertainties in the global market. 


Department of Statistics, Malaysia l Chusnul Ch Manan| chusnul@tradingeconomics.com
4/4/2019 9:56:01 AM


News

Malaysia Posts Largest Trade Surplus in 3 Months
Malaysia's trade surplus increased to MYR 11.5 billion in January of 2019 from MYR 9.7 billion in the same month of the prior year and beating market expectations of a MYR 9.2 billion surplus. It was the largest trade surplus since October last year, as exports rose more than imports. Exports went up 3.1 percent to MYR 85.4 billion, above market consensus of a 1.4 percent increase. Meantime, imports increased at a slower 1.0 percent to MYR 73.9 billion, below estimates of a 1.2 percent gain.
Published on 2019-03-04

Malaysia Trade Surplus Widens 41.6% YoY in December
Malaysia's trade surplus increased to MYR 10.4 billion in December of 2018 from MYR 7.4 billion in the same month of the prior year and beating market expectations of a MYR 7.4 billion surplus. Exports rose 4.8 percent, above market consensus of a 2.4 percent increase, mainly due to sales of electrical & electronic products and chemicals & chemical products. Meantime, imports went up at a slower 1.1 percent, missing estimates of a 1.3 percent gain. Higher purchases of intermediate goods and consumer goods were partly offset by a slump in those of capital goods.
Published on 2019-01-30

Malaysia Trade Surplus Smallest in 3 Months
Malaysia's trade surplus narrowed sharply to MYR 7.6 billion in November of 2018 from MYR 9.9 billion in the same month of the prior year and far below market expectations of a surplus of MYR 11.5 billion. It was the smallest trade surplus since August, as exports rose less than imports
Published on 2019-01-04

Malaysia Posts Largest Trade Surplus in 21 Years
Malaysia's trade surplus widened sharply to MYR 16.3 billion in October of 2018 from MYR 10 billion in the same month of the prior year and far above market expectations of a surplus of MYR 12.5 billion. It was the largest trade surplus since October 1997, when trade balance posted a deficit MYR 0.15 billion, mainly due to a surge in exports.
Published on 2018-12-05



Malaysia Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade 11061.72 11514.19 16313.37 -2880.61 MYR Million [+]
Current Account 10834.00 3784.00 39982.00 978.00 MYR Million [+]
Current Account to GDP 2.30 3.00 17.10 -13.20 percent [+]
Imports 55543.07 73885.66 80197.13 313.60 MYR Million [+]
Exports 66604.80 85399.90 96363.90 328.10 MYR Million [+]
External Debt 924887.22 947877.65 947877.65 9063.00 MYR Million [+]
Terms of Trade 98.00 98.30 117.20 92.50 Index Points [+]
Tourism Revenues 84135.20 82200.00 84135.20 8580.50 MYR Million [+]
Tourist Arrivals 2352422.00 1989842.00 2806565.00 459374.00 [+]
Gold Reserves 38.90 38.90 38.90 35.46 Tonnes [+]
Crude Oil Production 650.00 654.00 791.00 489.00 BBL/D/1K [+]
Terrorism Index 2.70 3.33 3.58 0.00 [+]
Capital Flows 164.26 9114.33 51408.25 -71566.30 MYR Million [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 12882.00 4299.00 37325.00 2452.00 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 April of 2019.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
11061.72 11514.19 16313.37 -2880.61 1970 - 2019 MYR Million Monthly




Country Last Previous
Argentina 460.00 Feb/19
Australia 4801.00 Feb/19
Brazil 4990.00 Mar/19
Canada -2894.80 Feb/19
China 326.47 Mar/19
Euro Area 17938.00 Feb/19
France -4002.00 Feb/19
Germany 17900.00 Feb/19
India -10890.00 Mar/19
Indonesia 540.20 Mar/19
Italy 3267.83 Feb/19
Japan 528.50 Mar/19
Mexico 1222.00 Feb/19
Netherlands 5130.00 Feb/19
Russia 15671.00 Feb/19
Saudi Arabia 180059.00 Dec/18
Singapore 3615.50 Mar/19
South Africa 3990.00 Feb/19
South Korea 5222.00 Mar/19
Spain -4483276.00 Jan/19
Switzerland 2494.00 Mar/19
Turkey -2134.33 Feb/19
United Kingdom -4860.00 Feb/19
United States -49382.00 Feb/19


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