MITI: Malaysia’s trade performance registers 18.2% y-o-y growth to RM261.94b

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s trade performance sustained its positive trajectory in April 2025, rising 18.2 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM261.94 billion, said the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI).

This marked the 16th consecutive month of y-o-y trade expansion since January 2024 and the highest monthly trade value recorded since August 2022.

MITI noted that both exports and imports posted strong double-digit growth for the month.

“Exports expanded by 16.4 per cent to RM133.56 billion, and imports were up by 20 per cent to RM128.37 billion.

“A trade surplus was recorded for the 60th consecutive month since May 2020, reaching RM5.19 billion,” the ministry said in a statement today.

MITI said exports growth was mainly driven by robust demand for manufactured goods, particularly electrical and electronic (E&E) products, which surged by nearly RM16 billion. Agricultural goods, especially palm oil and palm oil-based agricultural products, also contributed significantly to the overall export expansion.

In terms of markets, exports expanded to ASEAN, China, the United States, the European Union and Taiwan, which reached a new record high.

Overall exports to Free Trade Agreement partners also saw a strong rebound, said MITI.

Among markets that recorded export increases were Mexico, India and South Korea, driven by higher shipments of E&E products.

For the first four months of 2025, MITI said Malaysia’s total trade rose 7.2 per cent y-o-y to RM977.61 billion, with exports rising 7.3 per cent to RM511.92 billion and imports growing by seven per cent to RM465.69 billion.

Meanwhile, the trade surplus registered double-digit growth of 10.4 per cent to RM46.23 billion.

Additionally, the World Trade Organisation reported an improvement in Malaysia’s global trade ranking, moving up to 24th position in 2024 from 26th in 2023. — BERNAMA