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, mainly due to sales of electrical & electronic products and liquefied natural gas. Meantime, imports incresed at a slower 1.0 percent to MYR 73.9 billion, below estimates of a 1.2 percent gain, driven by a higher purchases of consumption goods. Balance of Trade in Malaysia averaged 3416.10 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 5100.00 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 7000.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Malaysia Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 10200.00 MYR Million in 2020, according to our econometric models.

Malaysia Balance of Trade
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Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-12-05 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR16.3B MYR15.3B MYR12.5B MYR 8.9B
2019-01-04 04:00 AM Balance of Trade 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 MYR11.5B
2019-05-03 04:00 AM Balance of Trade
2019-06-03 04:00 AM Balance of Trade



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.

Year-on-year, exports rose by 3.1 percent to MYR to MYR 85.4 billion in January 2019, after a 4.8 percent rise in December and beating market consensus of a 1.4 percent gain. Sales increased for: liquefied natural gas/LNG (37.5 percent to MYR 5.2 billion); electrical & electronic products (8.2 percent to MYR 34.3 billion), and timber and timber-based products (4.7 percent to 2.1 billion). By contrast, outbound shipments fell for: palm oil and palm oil-based products (-17.3 percent to MYR 5.4 billion); natural rubber (-5.6 percent to MYR 275.1 million); and refined petroleum products (-29.9 percent to MYR 3.7 billion); crude petroleum (-1.1 percent to MYR 2.5 billion).
 
Outbound shipments went up to China (9.1 percent); Singapore (5.4 percent), and the US (9.4 percent) amid strong demand for manufactured goods.
 
Imports increased 1 percent from a year earlier to MYR 73.9 billion in January 2019, the same pace as in the prior month and below estimates of 1.2 percent rise. Purchases of consumption goods recorded a 3.3 percent gain to MYR 6.5 billion, consisting of 8.8 percent of total imports. The increase was mainly attributed to non-durables (13.5 percent); and durables (16.4percent). Meanwhile, imports of capital goods went down (-3.3 percent to MYR 9 billion (12.2 percent share), due to a fall in transport equipment, industrial (-50.2 percent) while imports of capital goods except transport equipment increased (1.9 percent). Also, purchases of intermediate goods fell 0.8 percent to MYR 37.5 billion, consisting of 50.7 percent share. The decrease was dragged by parts & accessories of capital goods except transport equipment (-14.5 percent) and fuel & lubricants processed, others (-45.2 percent) while imports rose for: fuel & lubricants, processed, others (36.7 percent); and industrial supplies processed (6.3 percent).
 
By country, imports from China advanced 17.5 percent, with refined petroleum products (128.7 percent) and electrical & electronic products (5.2 percent) expanding the most. Conversely, purchases from Singapore shrank 16.4 percent, driven by refined petroleum products (-37.4 percent) and electrical & electronic products (-9.9 percent).


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
3/4/2019 4:57:35 AM


News

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 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 Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade 11521.73 10676.42 16313.37 -2880.61 MYR Million [+]
Current Account 10834.00 3784.00 39982.00 978.00 MYR Million [+]
Current Account to GDP 1.30 3.10 17.10 -13.20 percent [+]
Imports 73887.73 72861.93 80197.13 313.60 MYR Million [+]
Exports 85409.50 83538.40 96363.90 328.10 MYR Million [+]
External Debt 924887.22 947877.65 947877.65 9063.00 MYR Million [+]
Terms of Trade 98.30 98.20 117.20 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 654.00 630.00 791.00 489.00 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 March of 2019.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
11521.73 10676.42 16313.37 -2880.61 1970 - 2019 MYR Million Monthly




Country Last Previous
Argentina 372.00 Jan/19
Australia 4549.00 Jan/19
Brazil 3670.00 Feb/19
Canada -4593.40 Dec/18
China 41.18 Feb/19
Euro Area 1547.90 Jan/19
France -4195.00 Jan/19
Germany 14500.00 Jan/19
India -9600.00 Feb/19
Indonesia 329.50 Feb/19
Italy 3658.00 Dec/18
Japan 339.00 Feb/19
Mexico -4809.60 Jan/19
Netherlands 2868.00 Jan/19
Russia 13368.00 Jan/19
Saudi Arabia 184673.00 Sep/18
Singapore 5198.50 Feb/19
South Africa -13082.76 Jan/19
South Korea 3098.00 Feb/19
Spain -3247399.00 Dec/18
Switzerland 1388.18 Jan/19
Turkey -2503.45 Jan/19
United Kingdom -3825.00 Jan/19
United States -59769.00 Dec/18


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