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MALAYSIA posted its strongest external trade performance in almost four years in April 2026 as booming exports of electrical and electronic (E&E) products propelled total trade, exports and imports to their highest monthly levels ever recorded.
Figures released by Department of Statistics Malaysia on Wednesday shows total trade surged 28.6 per cent year-on-year to RM336.73 billion, representing the fastest annual growth pace since September 2022.
Exports climbed sharply for the 10th consecutive month, soaring 36.9 per cent to an all-time high of RM182.74 billion, while imports expanded 20 per cent to RM153.99 billion.
The strong export momentum resulted in a trade surplus of RM28.75 billion, extending Malaysia’s uninterrupted streak of monthly trade surpluses to 72 months since May 2020.
The latest performance highlighted Malaysia’s growing strategic role within global high-technology supply chains, particularly in sectors linked to artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing and automotive electronics.
E&E exports alone recorded a dramatic RM28 billion increase to a new record high, fuelled largely by robust international demand for AI-related technologies and advanced automotive electronic components.
Trade growth was also supported by strong expansion in petroleum products, metal manufactures, machinery and industrial equipment, as well as optical and scientific instruments, with several categories posting their highest export values to date.
Malaysia’s major trading destinations all registered strong growth, reflecting resilient demand across regional and developed markets despite ongoing global instability stemming from geopolitical tensions in West Asia, rising logistics costs and supply chain disruptions.
Exports to ASEAN economies, the People’s Republic of China, the United States, Taiwan and the European Union all recorded double-digit increases, with shipments to ASEAN, Taiwan and the EU reaching historic highs.
The country also continued benefiting from its extensive network of Free Trade Agreements, which expanded access to strategic international markets and reduced reliance on traditional export destinations.
Exports to economies including Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia, India and Türkiye rose steadily to fresh record levels, underscoring the broadening diversification of Malaysia’s export markets.
Malaysia’s cumulative trade figures for the January-to-April 2026 period further reinforced the country’s economic resilience, with total trade surpassing RM1 trillion within just four months — a milestone achieved one month earlier than in 2025.
During the first four months of the year, total trade increased 15.3 per cent to RM1.127 trillion, while exports grew 19 per cent to RM609.31 billion and imports rose 11.1 per cent to RM517.40 billion.
The country’s trade surplus more than doubled year-on-year to RM91.92 billion, with trade, exports, imports and surplus all reaching record levels for the corresponding period.
The robust trade performance coincided with stronger domestic economic growth, as Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product expanded 5.4 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, outperforming the 4.4 per cent growth recorded during the same quarter last year.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund upgraded Malaysia’s 2026 economic growth forecast to 4.7 per cent in its April World Economic Outlook, citing confidence in the country’s macroeconomic stability, resilient domestic demand and sustained export strength.
Despite the encouraging outlook, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry said authorities would continue monitoring global developments closely to safeguard Malaysia’s trade resilience amid persistent geopolitical uncertainty and volatility in commodity and shipping markets.
The ministry said maintaining export competitiveness and ensuring sustained trade growth would remain central priorities as Malaysia navigates an increasingly complex global economic environment. - May 20, 2026
