Malaysia’s exports rose 8.3% year-on-year to a three-month high of MYR 148.8 billion in March 2026, moderating from a downwardly revised 10.7% increase in February. The expansion was led by the manufacturing sector, which grew 9.6%, driven in particular by electrical and electronic products (15.0%) and petroleum products (23.7%).
In contrast, mining exports edged down 0.4%, weighed by a sharp decline in liquefied natural gas shipments (-17.5%). This was partially offset by higher exports of crude petroleum (0.8%) and metalliferous ores and metal scrap (13.8%).
Agricultural exports fell 7.8%, reflecting weaker demand for palm oil and palm-based products (-6.1%) and a significant drop in natural rubber exports (-45.9%).
By destination, exports to the U.S. jumped 18.3%. Shipments to China increased 7.0%, exports to Hong Kong grew 19.2%, and those to Taiwan surged 45.0%.
For the first quarter of 2026 as a whole, Malaysia’s exports rose 12.7% year-on-year to USD 425.5 billion.
