Penang, Johor and Selangor dominate Malaysia's trade

KUALA LUMPUR: Penang, Johor and Selangor accounted for 80.5 per cent of Malaysia's total trade in September 2026, as exports and imports recorded strong year-on-year growth.

The Statistics Department said total trade amounted to RM396.5 billion, comprising exports of RM215.1 billion and imports of RM181.4 billion.

Penang remained Malaysia's largest exporting state, accounting for 52.6 per cent of total exports, followed by Johor at 17.5 per cent, Selangor at 11.7 per cent, Sarawak at 5.3 per cent and Kuala Lumpur at 3.3 per cent.

Penang also accounted for the largest share of imports, at 35.3 per cent, followed by Johor at 24.2 per cent, Selangor at 19.5 per cent, Kuala Lumpur at 6.8 per cent and Kedah at 4.3 per cent.

Malaysia's exports rose by RM75.9 billion, or 54.5 per cent, from September 2025, driven mainly by Penang, where exports increased by RM55.5 billion.

Johor followed, with exports rising by RM10.2 billion. Selangor and Sarawak recorded increases of RM4.1 billion and RM3.5 billion, respectively.

Kuala Lumpur's exports rose by RM2.1 billion.

Other states and federal territories that recorded higher exports included Negri Sembilan, Perak, Pahang, Labuan, Kedah and Kelantan.

However, exports declined in Sabah by RM459.1 million, Terengganu by RM383.3 million, Melaka by RM91.7 million and Perlis by RM20.1 million.

Meanwhile, imports rose by RM62.6 billion, or 52.7 per cent, year-on-year in September, with Penang recording the largest increase at RM37.2 billion.

Johor's imports increased by RM15.2 billion, followed by Selangor at RM5.6 billion and Kedah at RM2.1 billion.

Imports also increased in Perak, Pahang, Sarawak, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Kelantan and Labuan.

Perlis was the only state to record a decline in imports, which fell by RM53.1 million year-on-year.