Malaysia's September exports surge 54.5pct as trade surplus extends to 77th straight month

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's exports jumped 54.5 per cent year-on-year to RM215.1 billion in September, driven largely by strong demand for electrical and electronic (E&E) products.

The Statistics Department said E&E exports increased by RM45.1 billion from a year earlier, making them the largest contributor to export growth.

Total trade rose 53.7 per cent to RM396.5 billion, with imports climbing 52.7 per cent to RM181.4 billion.

The trade surplus widened 64.9 per cent to RM33.7 billion, marking Malaysia's 77th consecutive month of trade surplus since May 2020.

Domestic exports rose 54.7 per cent to RM162 billion, while re-exports increased 53.7 per cent to RM53.1 billion.

Besides E&E products, export growth was supported by other manufactured goods, which increased by RM14.7 billion, followed by petroleum products (RM3 billion) and optical and scientific equipment (RM2.4 billion).

The United States recorded the largest increase in Malaysian exports at RM18 billion, followed by Taiwan (RM13.7 billion) and Singapore (RM11.9 billion).

On the import side, E&E products led the increase, rising by RM42.2 billion.

Imports of machinery, equipment and parts grew by RM4.5 billion, while petroleum products increased by RM3.9 billion.

China recorded the largest increase in Malaysia's imports at RM21.1 billion, followed by Singapore (RM10.9 billion) and South Korea (RM9.1 billion).

By category, imports of intermediate goods surged 69.6 per cent to RM92.1 billion.

Capital goods imports rose 20.9 per cent to RM22.3 billion, while consumer goods increased 18.2 per cent to RM10.9 billion.

On a month-on-month basis, exports rose 12.6 per cent in September, while imports increased 11.3 per cent.

Total trade grew 12 per cent, with the trade surplus expanding 20.1 per cent, or RM5.6 billion.

For the first nine months of 2026, Malaysia's total trade increased 30.1 per cent to RM2.9 trillion from a year earlier.

In the third quarter, total trade rose 44.7 per cent year-on-year, with exports growing 46 per cent and imports increasing 43.3 per cent.

The quarterly trade surplus widened 65.1 per cent to RM84.3 billion.