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. Year-on-year, exports grew by 17.7 percent to MYR to MYR 96.4 billion, after a 6.7 percent rise in September and far above consensus of a 6.2 percent rise. Imports rose by 11.4 percent to MYR 80.1 billion, above expectations of a 2.8 percent gain and after a 2.7 percent fall in a month earlier. Considering the first ten months of the year, the trade surplus increased sharply to MYR 102 billion from MYR 81.2 billion in the same period 2017. Balance of Trade in Malaysia averaged 3382.34 MYR Million from 1970 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 16323.97 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 9618.00 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 8950.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Malaysia Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 5000.00 MYR Million in 2020, according to our econometric models.

Malaysia Balance of Trade
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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 MYR16.3B MYR15.3B MYR12.5B MYR 8.9B
2019-01-04 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR16.3B
2019-02-04 07:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR 8B
2019-03-04 04:00 AM Balance of Trade



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.

Year-on-year, exports jumped by 17.7 percent to MYR to MYR 96.4 billion in October 2018, after a 6.7 percent rise in September and far above market consensus of a 6.2 percent rise. Sales increased for: electrical & electronic products (23.3 percent to MYR 38.4 billion, 39.8 percent of total exports); refined petroleum products (37.3 percent to MYR 6.7 billion, 6.9 percent share); crude petroleum (32.8 percent to MYR 3.8 billion, 3.9 percent share); liquefied natural gas/LNG (38.8 percent to MYR 4.1 billion, 4.2 percent share); and timber and timber-based products (6.6 percent to 2.2 billion, 2.2 percent share). In contrast, outbound shipments fell for: palm oil and palm oil-based products (-11.6 percent to MYR 6.2 billion, 6.4 percent of total share); and natural rubber (-2.8 percent to MYR 314.7 million, 0.3 percent of total share).
 
Outbound shipments went up to China (33 percent); Singapore (18.3 percent); and the US (7.6 percent).
 
Imports soared 11.4 percent from a year earlier to MYR 80.1 billion in October 2018, missing market expectations of a 2.8 percent gain and after a 2.7 percent drop in a month earlier. Purchases of intermediate goods rose 1 percent to MYR 39.3 billion, consisting of 49.1 percent of total imports. The increase was driven by parts & accessories of transport equipment (13.4 percent); fuel & lubricants, processed, others (32.7 percent); fuel & lubricants, primary (115.2 percent), and food and beverages, processed, mainly for industries (32.7 percent). Also, imports of consumption goods recorded a 8 percent gain to MYR 6.4 billion, consisting of 10.7 percent share. The increase was mainly attributed to non-durables (23.3 percent); food & beverages, processed, mainly for household consumption (7.3 percent) and durables (17.8 percent). On the other hand, imports of capital goods shrank 1.6 percent to MYR 9.4 billion, consisting of 11.8 percent share, due to a drop in capital goods except transport equipment (-3.4 percent) while imports of transport equipment, industrial rose (18.5 percent).
 
Considering the first ten months of the year, the trade surplus increased sharply to MYR 102 billion from MYR 81.2 billion in the same period 2017.
 
 
 
 


Department of Statistics, Malaysia l Chusnul Ch Manan | chusnul@tradingeconomics.com
12/5/2018 7:54:24 AM


Recent Releases

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.
Published on 2018-11-05

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 Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade 16323.97 15232.98 16323.97 -2880.61 MYR Million [+]
Current Account 3784.00 3909.00 39982.00 978.00 MYR Million [+]
Current Account to GDP 1.30 3.10 17.10 -13.20 percent [+]
Imports 80052.87 67720.02 80197.13 313.60 MYR Million [+]
Exports 96376.80 82953.00 96376.80 328.10 MYR Million [+]
External Debt 947877.65 936489.00 947877.65 9063.00 MYR Million [+]
Terms of Trade 96.30 96.50 117.20 92.50 Index Points [+]
Tourism Revenues 82200.00 82098.20 82200.00 8580.50 MYR Million [+]
Tourist Arrivals 2092378.00 2253534.00 2806565.00 459374.00 [+]
Gold Reserves 37.60 37.60 38.57 35.46 Tonnes [+]
Crude Oil Production 606.00 675.00 791.00 489.00 BBL/D/1K [+]
Terrorism Index 3.33 2.69 3.58 0.00 [+]
Capital Flows 164.26 9114.33 51408.25 -71566.30 MYR Million [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 3949.00 2843.00 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 December of 2018.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
16323.97 15232.98 16323.97 -2880.61 1970 - 2018 MYR Million Monthly




Country Last Previous
Argentina 277.00 Oct/18
Australia 2316.00 Oct/18
Brazil 4062.09 Nov/18
Canada -1165.20 Oct/18
China 447.40 Nov/18
Euro Area 13141.70 Sep/18
France -4052.00 Oct/18
Germany 18300.00 Oct/18
India -17130.00 Oct/18
Indonesia -1819.90 Oct/18
Italy 1274.37 Sep/18
Japan -449.26 Oct/18
Mexico -2936.00 Oct/18
Netherlands 4949.00 Sep/18
Russia 19697.00 Oct/18
Saudi Arabia 162782.00 Jun/18
Singapore 4520.91 Oct/18
South Africa -5549.90 Oct/18
South Korea 5139.00 Nov/18
Spain -3297100.00 Sep/18
Switzerland 2637.00 Oct/18
Turkey -456.10 Oct/18
United Kingdom -3300.00 Oct/18
United States -55488.00 Oct/18


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