Malaysian's trade surplus up

Malaysian's trade surplus up

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's trade surplus rose in October to 4.9
billion ringgit (US$1.3 billion) from 4.8 billion ringgit the
month earlier led by palm oil and oil exports, the Statistics
Department said Monday.

In October, exports rose 2.2 percent to 31.9 billion ringgit
from the previous month while imports also rose 2.2 percent to
27.1 billion ringgit previously, it added.

The department said September was 60th consecutive month the
trade account remained in surplus.

It said the export rise was due to increases in shipments of
palm oil, chemicals and chemical products, crude petroleum,
liquefied natural gas (LNG), refined petroleum products, optical
and scientific equipment and processed food.

It said exports of electrical and electronics products totaled
16.9 billion ringgit and contributed 52.8 percent of total
exports in October.

Southeast Asia, the United States, the European Union, Japan,
Hong Kong and China were top export markets during the month,
collectively contributing 78.9 percent to Malaysia's total
exports. -- AFP