Malaysia’s trade surplus widened to MYR 33.7 billion in September 2026, from MYR 20.5 billion a year earlier, marking the largest surplus since May, as export growth outpaced imports. Exports surged 54.5% year-on-year to a record MYR 215.1 billion, driven mainly by a 50.4% increase in manufactured goods, which made up 58.6% of total exports. Within this category, electrical and electronics (E&E) products led the gains, climbing 69.2%. By destination, exports rose sharply to the US (89.9%), Singapore (50.4%), China (22.1%), Taiwan (175.2%), and the EU (35.3%).
Imports also climbed strongly, rising 52.7% year-on-year to an all-time high of MYR 181.4 billion, supported by robust demand for intermediate goods (up 69.6%), capital goods (up 20.9%), and consumption goods (up 18.2%). By source, imports from China increased 67.6%, from Singapore 90.7%, and from Taiwan 55.6%.
Over the first nine months of 2026, the trade surplus more than doubled, jumping 115.7% year-on-year to MYR 232.4 billion, as exports grew 34.0% and imports rose 25.7%.
