Malaysia’s trade surplus soared to MYR 40.4 billion in April 2026 from MYR 0.8 billion in the same month last year, surpassing market expectations of MYR 23.2 billion. It was the largest trade surplus on record, as exports grew much faster than imports. Exports jumped 45.3% year-on-year to a record high of MYR 184 billion, mainly driven by the manufacturing sector, which soared 51.7%, particularly in electrical and electronic products (70.5%) and petroleum products (74.2%). By destination, exports grew sharply to the US (97.7%), Singapore (40.4%), China (27.8%), and the EU (45.0%). Imports rose 14.1% year-on-year to MYR 143.6 billion, supported by higher purchases of intermediate goods (14.4%). Import growth was strongest from Singapore (43.9%), followed by China (38.7%) and Taiwan (31.4%), while imports from the US slumped 32.0%. For the first five months of the year, the country’s trade surplus reached MYR 132.8 billion, with exports rising 24.3% and imports climbing 14.6%. source: Department of Statistics, Malaysia

Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of 40400 MYR Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in Malaysia averaged 5136.47 MYR Million from 1970 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 40380.00 MYR Million in May of 2026 and a record low of -4464.53 MYR Million in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - Malaysia Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Malaysia Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of 40400 MYR Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in Malaysia is expected to be 8000.00 MYR Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Malaysia Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 10000.00 MYR Million in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-20 04:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Apr MYR28.80B MYR24.50B MYR16.6B MYR10.5B
2026-06-19 04:00 AM
Balance of Trade
May MYR40.4B MYR29.2B MYR 23.2B MYR 20.0B
2026-07-20 04:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Jun MYR40.4B MYR 8B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 40380.00 29226.00 MYR Million May 2026
Capital Flows 27395.00 9414.00 MYR Million Mar 2026
Current Account 15157.00 2748.00 MYR Million Mar 2026
Current Account to GDP 1.50 1.40 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 184004.00 183270.00 MYR Million May 2026
Exports YoY 45.30 37.30 percent May 2026
Foreign Direct Investment 22809.25 26641.30 MYR Million Mar 2026
Imports 143624.00 154044.00 MYR Million May 2026
Imports YoY 14.10 20.00 percent May 2026
Terms of Trade 122.20 119.60 points May 2026


Malaysia Balance of Trade
International trade plays a large role in Malaysian economy. Since 1998, Malaysia have been reporting consistent trade surpluses, mainly due to rise in exports of electrical and electronics products. In 2015, the biggest trade surpluses were recorded with Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and United States while the biggest trade deficits with China and Taiwan.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
40380.00 29226.00 40380.00 -4464.53 1970 - 2026 MYR Million Monthly

News Stream
Malaysia Trade Surplus Hits Record High
Malaysia’s trade surplus soared to MYR 40.4 billion in April 2026 from MYR 0.8 billion in the same month last year, surpassing market expectations of MYR 23.2 billion. It was the largest trade surplus on record, as exports grew much faster than imports. Exports jumped 45.3% year-on-year to a record high of MYR 184 billion, mainly driven by the manufacturing sector, which soared 51.7%, particularly in electrical and electronic products (70.5%) and petroleum products (74.2%). By destination, exports grew sharply to the US (97.7%), Singapore (40.4%), China (27.8%), and the EU (45.0%). Imports rose 14.1% year-on-year to MYR 143.6 billion, supported by higher purchases of intermediate goods (14.4%). Import growth was strongest from Singapore (43.9%), followed by China (38.7%) and Taiwan (31.4%), while imports from the US slumped 32.0%. For the first five months of the year, the country’s trade surplus reached MYR 132.8 billion, with exports rising 24.3% and imports climbing 14.6%.
2026-06-19
Malaysia Trade Surplus Largest in Near 3 Years
Malaysia’s trade surplus surged to MYR 28.8 billion in April 2026 from MYR 5.1 billion in the same month last year, surpassing market expectations of MYR 16.6 billion. It was the largest trade surplus since June 2023, as exports grew faster than imports. Exports jumped 36.9% yoy to a record high of MYR 182.7 billion, mainly driven by the manufacturing sector, which soared 40.1%, particularly in electrical and electronic products (46.4%) and petroleum products (70.2%). By destination, exports grew sharply to the US (39.0%), Singapore (23.2%), and China (39.2%). Imports climbed 11.2% yoy to a record peak of MYR 154 billion, supported by higher purchases of consumption goods (5.6%). Import growth was strongest from China (36.8%) and Singapore (45.7%), while imports from the US plunged 48.1%. For the first four months of the year, the country’s trade surplus reached MYR 91.9 billion, with exports and imports advancing 19.0% and 11.1%, respectively.
2026-05-20
Malaysia Trade Surplus Narrows Slightly
Malaysia’s trade surplus narrowed slightly to MYR 24.6 billion in March 2026, from MYR 24.8 billion in the same month last year. Imports rose 10.4% year-on-year to MYR 124.2 billion, driven by higher purchases of capital goods (24.7%), while imports of consumption goods (-7.8%) and intermediate goods (-1.1%) declined. Import growth was strongest from China (27.8%) and Singapore (28.8%), while imports from both Taiwan and the U.S. grew 12.3% each. Meanwhile, exports increased 8.3% year-on-year to a three-month high of MYR 148.8 billion, driven by manufacturing, which expanded 9.6%, particularly in electrical and electronic products (15.0%) and petroleum products (23.7%). By destination, exports increased sharply to the U.S. (18.3%), while shipments to China rose 7.0%, Hong Kong increased 19.2%, and Taiwan surged 45.0%. For the first quarter of the year, the country’s trade surplus reached MYR 63.2 billion, with exports and imports rising 12.7% and 7.7%, respectively.
2026-04-20