Key Takeaway: Malaysia’s exports grew 1.6% in October, driven by electronics and palm oil, but trade growth slowed overall due to weak demand from Asean and China, the country’s largest trading partner.
Malaysia's export performance rebounded slightly in October, reaching RM128.12 billion, a 1.6% year-on-year increase, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (Miti). This follows a 0.6% contraction in September, but growth fell short of economists’ forecasts of 2.5%.
Highlights:
- Electronics (+7.6%) and palm oil exports (+12%) supported growth, while petroleum shipments shrank 31% year-on-year.
- Exports to China fell 6.5%, but deliveries to the US (+33%), EU (+7.7%), and Taiwan (+49%) surged.
- Gross imports rose 2.6% to RM116.14 billion, driven by intermediate goods. However, imports of capital goods fell 2.7% due to reduced purchases of industrial transport equipment.
- The trade surplus narrowed 7.6% year-on-year to RM11.98 billion but marked the 54th consecutive month of trade surplus.
Risks and Mitigation:
Miti flagged global vulnerabilities such as geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and market volatility as risks to trade growth. To mitigate these, the ministry plans to intensify market promotional activities and open new export markets.
While Malaysia's trade surplus remains stable, the slowing growth in key markets like China and Asean reflects ongoing global challenges. Diversification and proactive trade measures will be crucial to sustain growth.
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