Malaysia's trade surplus decreased to MYR 10.9 billion in April of 2019 from MYR 13 billion in the same month of the prior year and below market expectations of a MYR 12.6 billion surplus. This was the smallest trade gap since December last year, as exports rose less than imports. Exports went up 1.1 percent to MYR 85.2 billion, missing market consensus of a 1 percent drop, mainly due to sales of electrical and electronic products and refined petroleum. Meantime, imports rose at a faster 4.4 percent to MYR 74.3 billion, missing market estimates of a 0.2 percent fall, as purchases of intermediate, consumption, and capital goods increased. Considering the first four months of the year, the trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 47.8 billion, compared with a surplus of USD 46.4 billion in the same period of 2018. Balance of Trade in Malaysia averaged 3447.55 MYR Million from 1970 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 16313.37 MYR Million in October of 2018 and a record low of -2880.61 MYR Million in June of 1997.

Balance of Trade in Malaysia is expected to be 6600.00 MYR Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Balance of Trade in Malaysia to stand at 16500.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Malaysia Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 12200.00 MYR Million in 2020, according to our econometric models.

Malaysia Balance of Trade
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Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2019-03-04 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR11.5B MYR10.4B MYR9.2B MYR9B
2019-04-04 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR11.1B MYR11.5B MYR10.4B MYR9B
2019-05-03 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR14.4B MYR11.1B MYR14.2B MYR12.5B
2019-06-03 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR10.9B MYR14.4B MYR12.6B MYR12.9B
2019-07-04 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR10.9B MYR12.6B MYR9.1B
2019-08-02 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR 6.6B
2019-09-04 04:00 AM Balance of Trade MYR7.4B



Malaysia Trade Surplus Smallest in 4 Months

Malaysia's trade surplus decreased to MYR 10.9 billion in April of 2019 from MYR 13 billion in the same month of the prior year and below market expectations of a MYR 12.6 billion surplus. This was the smallest trade gap since December last year, as exports rose less than imports.

Year-on-year, exports unexpectedly rose by 1.1 percent to MYR 85.2 billion in April 2019, missing market consensus of a 1 percent fall and after a 0.5 percent contraction in the previous month. Sales increased for: electrical and electronic products/E&E (38.9 percent to MYR 33.1 billion); refined petroleum products (22.3 percent to MYR 6.4 billion); liquefied natural gas (26.3 percent to MYR 3.6 billion); natural rubber (6.0 percent to MYR 334.9 million). By contrast, outbound shipments declined for: crude petroleum (-34.6 percent to MYR 1.9 billion); palm oil and palm oil-based products (-14.8 percent to MYR 5.2 billion), and timber and timber based products (-3.1 percent to MYR 1.8 billion).
 
Outbound shipments rose to Singapore (11.3 percent) amid faster demand of electrical and electronic products, refined petroleum products and crude petroleum. By contrast, export to China decreased by 6.9 percent, led by E & E products.

Imports to Malaysia unexpectedly increased by 4.4 percent year-on-year to MYR 74.3 billion in April 2019, after a 0.1 percent fall in March and missing market expectations of a 0.2 percent drop. This was the first increase in imports since January, as imports went up for all categories. Purchases of intermediate goods surged (20.3 percent, due to rises in industrial supplies, processed (25.4 percent), fuel & lubricants, primary (60.5 percent), and part and accessories of capital goods except transport equipment (11.4 percent). Also, inbound shipments of consumption goods jumped 18.9 percent, led by non-durable (30.2 percent). Meantime, imports of capital goods grew 5.7 percent, attributed to capital goods except transport equipment (12.5 percent).
 
By country, purchases went up from China (8.8 percent), mainly due to motor cars and other motor vehicles, aluminum, refined petroleum products and electrical & electronic/E&E products; while declined from Singapore (-15.7 percent).
 
Considering the first four months of the year, the trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 47.8 billion, compared with a surplus of USD 46.4 billion in the same period of 2018.

Malaysia’s total trade is projected to grow moderately by 5 percent in 2019 from 5.9 percent in 2018 due to uncertainties in the global market. 


Department of Statistics, Malaysia l Chusnul Ch Manan | chusnul@tradingeconomics.com
6/3/2019 6:15:15 AM


News

Malaysia Trade Surplus Narrows in March
Malaysia's trade surplus decreased to MYR 14.4 billion in March of 2019 from MYR 14.7 billion in the same month of the prior year but slightly beating market expectations of a MYR 14.2 billion surplus. Exports went down 0.5 percent to MYR 84 billion, better than market consensus of a 0.8 percent drop. Meantime, imports edged down 0.1 percent to MYR 69.7 billion, and better than market estimates of a 1.4 percent fall.
Published on 2019-05-03

Malaysia Trade Surplus Widens in February
Malaysia's trade surplus increased to MYR 11.1 billion in February of 2019 from MYR 9.0 billion in the same month of the prior year and beating market expectations of a MYR 10.4 billion surplus. Exports went down 5.3 percent to MYR 66.6 billion, missing market consensus of a 1.4 percent increase. Meantime, imports decreased 9.4 percent to MYR 55.5 billion, the most since April 2016 and worse than market estimates of a 0.6 percent fall.
Published on 2019-04-04

Malaysia Posts Largest Trade Surplus in 3 Months
Malaysia's trade surplus increased to MYR 11.5 billion in January of 2019 from MYR 9.7 billion in the same month of the prior year and beating market expectations of a MYR 9.2 billion surplus. It was the largest trade surplus since October last year, as exports rose more than imports. Exports went up 3.1 percent to MYR 85.4 billion, above market consensus of a 1.4 percent increase. Meantime, imports increased at a slower 1.0 percent to MYR 73.9 billion, below estimates of a 1.2 percent gain.
Published on 2019-03-04

Malaysia Trade Surplus Widens 41.6% YoY in December
Malaysia's trade surplus increased to MYR 10.4 billion in December of 2018 from MYR 7.4 billion in the same month of the prior year and beating market expectations of a MYR 7.4 billion surplus. Exports rose 4.8 percent, above market consensus of a 2.4 percent increase, mainly due to sales of electrical & electronic products and chemicals & chemical products. Meantime, imports went up at a slower 1.1 percent, missing estimates of a 1.3 percent gain. Higher purchases of intermediate goods and consumer goods were partly offset by a slump in those of capital goods.
Published on 2019-01-30



Malaysia Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade 10900.00 14369.78 16313.37 -2880.61 MYR Million [+]
Current Account 16387.00 10835.00 39982.00 978.00 MYR Million [+]
Current Account to GDP 2.30 3.00 17.10 -13.20 percent [+]
Imports 74300.00 69700.00 80197.13 313.60 MYR Million [+]
Exports 85200.00 84000.00 96363.90 328.10 MYR Million [+]
External Debt 903679.82 924887.22 933396.80 9063.00 MYR Million [+]
Terms of Trade 97.10 98.30 117.20 92.50 Index Points [+]
Tourism Revenues 84135.20 82200.00 84135.20 8580.50 MYR Million [+]
Tourist Arrivals 2334613.00 2165933.00 2806565.00 459374.00 [+]
Gold Reserves 38.90 38.90 38.90 35.46 Tonnes [+]
Crude Oil Production 630.00 656.00 791.00 489.00 BBL/D/1K [+]
Terrorism Index 2.70 3.33 3.58 0.00 [+]
Capital Flows -13823.00 -6161.00 51436.00 -71537.00 MYR Million [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 21726.00 12882.00 37325.00 2452.00 MYR Million [+]

Exports by Country  |   Exports by Category  |   Imports by Country  |   Imports by Category



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. . 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 - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2019.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
10900.00 14369.78 16313.37 -2880.61 1970 - 2019 MYR Million Monthly




Country Last Previous
Argentina 1373.00 May/19
Australia 4871.00 Apr/19
Brazil 6422.00 May/19
Canada -966.20 Apr/19
China 416.58 May/19
Euro Area 15671.60 Apr/19
France -4981.00 Apr/19
Germany 17900.00 Apr/19
India -15360.00 May/19
Indonesia 207.60 May/19
Italy 2884.57 Apr/19
Japan -967.11 May/19
Mexico 1370.00 Apr/19
Netherlands 4154.00 Apr/19
Russia 13705.00 Apr/19
Saudi Arabia 180059.00 Dec/18
Singapore 3962.64 May/19
South Africa -3427.45 Apr/19
South Korea 2271.00 May/19
Spain -1605300.00 Apr/19
Switzerland 1654.00 May/19
Turkey -2982.01 Apr/19
United Kingdom -2740.00 Apr/19
United States -50791.00 Apr/19


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