KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — 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.
It 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," Miti said in a statement today.
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.
It added that overall exports to Free Trade Agreement partners also rebounded strongly.
Mexico, India, and South Korea were among the markets that recorded export increases, driven by higher shipments of E&E products.
For the first four months of 2025, 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.
The World Trade Organisation also reported an improvement in Malaysia’s global trade ranking, moving up to the 24th position in 2024 from the 26th in 2023.
— Bernama
