Kota Kinabalu: Sabah registered a total trade value of RM105.5 billion in 2025, keeping its trade performance above the RM100 billion threshold for four straight years despite a 2.1 per cent contraction, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Releasing the Sabah External Trade Statistics 2026, DOSM reported that total exports dropped by 5.9 per cent to RM57.7 billion, while imports grew by 2.8 per cent to RM47.8 billion.
The State maintained a trade surplus of RM9.9 billion, representing a 33.3 per cent decrease from the RM14.9 billion recorded in 2024.
Crude petroleum remained Sabah’s main export at RM17.1 billion, followed by palm oil at RM16.8 billion and liquefied natural gas at RM4.6 billion.
The peninsula continued as the State’s primary trading partner with trade valued at RM49.6 billion, while China stood as the top foreign partner at RM10.4 billion.
Exports to Asean countries fell by 4.2 per cent to RM11.2 billion, with the Philippines being the top regional destination at RM3.9 billion.
By economic sector, mining led total exports at RM23.2 billion, followed by agriculture at RM22.1 billion and manufacturing at RM12.3 billion.
Meanwhile, DOSM is currently conducting the Economic Census 2026 under the theme "Data, the Economic Pulse of the People" until Oct 31 to evaluate the nation's economic landscape.
