Malaysia’s September exports rise 54.5% to RM215.1 billion

Malaysia recorded September exports of RM215.1 billion, up 54.5 per cent from a year earlier, according to the Statistics Department. Strong demand for electrical and electronic (E&E) products was the main driver, with the sector contributing an additional RM45.1 billion in exports.

Overall trade reached RM396.5 billion after a 53.7 per cent annual increase. Imports stood at RM181.4 billion, a rise of 52.7 per cent. The surplus reached RM33.7 billion, widening by 64.9 per cent and keeping the trade balance positive for a 77th consecutive month.

Domestic exports totalled RM162 billion following growth of 54.7 per cent, while re-exports reached RM53.1 billion, up 53.7 per cent. Other manufactured goods added RM14.7 billion to export growth; petroleum products contributed RM3 billion and optical and scientific equipment RM2.4 billion.

Among export destinations, the largest increase was for the United States, at RM18 billion. Taiwan followed with RM13.7 billion and Singapore with RM11.9 billion. China accounted for the biggest increase in imports, at RM21.1 billion, ahead of Singapore’s RM10.9 billion and South Korea’s RM9.1 billion.

E&E imports increased by RM42.2 billion. By goods category, intermediate imports reached RM92.1 billion, up 69.6 per cent. Capital goods totalled RM22.3 billion after a 20.9 per cent increase, while consumer goods reached RM10.9 billion, rising 18.2 per cent.

Compared with the previous month, exports increased 12.6 per cent and imports 11.3 per cent. Total trade expanded 12 per cent, while the surplus grew 20.1 per cent, or RM5.6 billion.

Trade for the first nine months of 2026 totalled RM2.9 trillion, up 30.1 per cent year-on-year. Third-quarter trade grew 44.7 per cent, with exports up 46 per cent and imports up 43.3 per cent. The quarterly surplus reached RM84.3 billion, an increase of 65.1 per cent.