Malaysia's Trade Hits All-Time High, Supported by Exports

KUALA LUMPUR, KOMPAS.com — Malaysia’s trade performance marked a new milestone in early 2026. The value of the country’s trade in the first quarter of 2026 reached the highest record in history, reflecting the resilience of the external sector amid global uncertainties. The Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) reported that total trade for the period January–March 2026 amounted to 789.85 billion ringgit, or approximately Rp 3,422.65 trillion (assuming an exchange rate of Rp 4,334.47 per ringgit). “Notably, this is the highest first-quarter value ever for trade, exports, and imports,” stated MITI. This achievement also confirms the ongoing trend of trade expansion in Malaysia, despite lingering global pressures, from geopolitical tensions to fluctuations in energy prices. Malaysia’s trade growth in the first quarter of 2026 was primarily supported by export performance, which recorded a higher increase compared to imports. On the other hand, imports were recorded at 363.31 billion ringgit, equivalent to approximately Rp 1,573.37 trillion, growing 7.7 percent compared to the same period last year. Thus, Malaysia booked a trade surplus of 63.22 billion ringgit, or approximately Rp 274.11 trillion, in the first quarter of 2026. This growth structure indicates that exports remain the main pillar of Malaysia’s trade, with a faster growth rate than imports. This accomplishment reflects a combination of increased global demand for Malaysian products and the strong competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. In its statement, MITI emphasised that this performance shows Malaysia’s trade remains on an expansion path despite global uncertainties.