Malaysia’s total trade rose 15.3% to RM1.127 trillion from January to April 2026, driven by demand for high-growth products and market diversification.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s total trade rose 15.3% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM1.127 trillion in January-April 2026, driven by surging demand for high-growth, high-value (HGHV) products and a deliberate strategy of market diversification.
In a statement today, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) said exports surged 19% to RM609.31 billion and imports rose 11.1% to RM517.40 billion, marking the highest-ever recorded values for this period.
“This resulted in a trade surplus of RM91.92 billion, a staggering 99.1% surge that effectively doubled the previous year’s performance,” it said, adding that Malaysia demonstrated extraordinary external sector resilience even amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia.
The export expansion in January to April 2026 was anchored by robust demand for electrical and electronic (E&E) products, which grew by RM71 billion or 32.1%, propelled by a global semiconductor boom, fuelled by artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, cloud computing, and data centre expansion.
Crucially, Malaysia has cemented its position in the global AI value chain, with exports of AI-enabling products surging 42.9% to RM319.05 billion, now commanding over half (52.4%) of the nation’s total exports.
In addition, pharmaceutical and automotive products added further dimension to the HGHV narrative, posting double-digit growth of 21.9% and 10.3%, respectively.
This aligns with the 13th Malaysia Plan’s strategic prioritisation of HGHV industries, including semiconductors, energy transition technologies, and digital economy-driven sectors.
Meanwhile, April 2026 also delivered exceptional results, with monthly exports climbing 36.9% to RM182.74 billion and the monthly trade surplus soaring 460.5% to RM28.75 billion — the highest values ever recorded in Malaysia’s trade history, underscoring the momentum driving Malaysia’s trade engine.
MATRADE chief executive officer Abu Bakar Yusof said the surge in AI-enabling products and semiconductor exports affirms that Malaysia’s industries are deeply embedded in the technology supply chains shaping the global economy.
“MATRADE remains committed to guiding Malaysian exporters and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) up the value chain, ensuring we capture not just markets, but the highest-value opportunities within them,” he said.
According to MATRADE, exports to the United States grew 32.5%, Taiwan (+68.9%), Hong Kong (+43.0%), China (+18.7%), the European Union (+23.9%), and ASEAN (+8.6%), largely catalysed by E&E shipments.
Exports to free trade agreement (FTA) partners expanded 14.2% to RM390.09 billion, with 17 of 24 FTA nations registering positive gains, including South Korea, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Most notably, Malaysia’s trade diversification has moved into a high-growth phase that extends well beyond its traditional pillars.
Emerging markets registered exponential growth, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (+196.6%), Sudan (+223.1%), Zimbabwe (+220.5%), Bulgaria (+141.6%), Haiti (+103.5%), Ethiopia (+88.1%) and Uzbekistan (+29.7%) leading the surge.
This reflects a systematic expansion of Malaysia’s trade footprint into high-growth, underserved markets across Africa and Eastern Europe, it said.
“Our diversification strategy is on the right track. While our core markets remain strong, the exponential growth we are seeing in frontier economies in Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe signals that Malaysian exporters are confidently making their foray into new markets.
“In an era of global trade uncertainty, this geographical resilience is not just strategic prudence. We are moving beyond traditional markets to ensure Malaysia remains indispensable to the global supply chain,” said Abu Bakar.
MATRADE said Malaysia’s trade trajectory for 2026 remains robust, supported by the convergence of HGHV sector momentum, targeted market diversification, and strategic adaptability in the face of geopolitical uncertainty — positioning Malaysia as a confident and resilient player in the global trade landscape.
It added that it will continue to support Malaysian exporters in capturing emerging opportunities, leveraging trade agreements, and embedding themselves firmly in the high-value segments of the global supply chains.
