Malaysia recorded another strong month for external trade in August 2026, with total trade, exports and imports each registering growth of more than 40% year-on-year (y-o-y), according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Total trade increased 43.4% y-o-y to RM354.01 billion, supported by a 45.5% increase in exports to RM191.05 billion and a 41.1% rise in imports to RM162.96 billion.
Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of RM28.09 billion, extending its surplus streak to 76 consecutive months since May 2020.
Exports Continue to Drive Trade Growth
The strong export performance was supported by higher shipments of manufactured and mining goods, particularly electrical and electronic (E&E) products, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), metalliferous ores and metal scrap.
E&E products continued to be a key contributor to Malaysia’s export performance. From January to August 2026, E&E exports reached RM656.14 billion, putting the sector on track to surpass its full-year export value recorded in 2025.
Overall, Malaysia’s exports rose 45.5% y-o-y in August to RM191.05 billion. The increase was driven by stronger domestic exports as well as re-exports.
Domestic exports accounted for RM151.0 billion, or 79% of total exports, representing a 46.0% increase from a year earlier. Re-exports rose 43.3% to RM40.1 billion.
Stronger Demand Across Major Trading Partners
Malaysia also recorded export growth across its major trading partners in August, with shipments to ASEAN, China, the United States, Taiwan and the European Union registering robust increases.
Exports to both the US and China reached their highest monthly values thus far, highlighting continued demand from two of Malaysia’s largest trading partners.
Export expansion was also recorded across Malaysia’s free trade agreement (FTA) partners, including Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, India, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, Pakistan, Canada, Peru and Chile.
The wider growth in shipments reflects Malaysia’s continued presence across regional and global markets.
January-August Trade Surplus More Than Doubles
For the first eight months of 2026, Malaysia’s external trade expanded 27.0% to RM2.514 trillion.
Exports continued to grow faster than imports, rising 31.2% to RM1.356 trillion, while imports increased 22.4% to RM1.158 trillion.
The trade surplus reached RM198.66 billion, more than double the surplus recorded during the corresponding period last year.
Trade, exports, imports and the trade surplus all recorded their highest cumulative values on record for a January-August period.
The January-August trade surplus has also already surpassed the full-year values recorded in both 2024 and 2025, highlighting the strength of Malaysia’s external trade performance so far in 2026.
Building Malaysia’s Export Competitiveness
Looking ahead, Malaysia will continue efforts to strengthen the foundations for sustained trade growth by widening its market presence, improving the competitiveness of strategic industries and positioning local exporters to capture emerging global opportunities.
Greater utilisation of free trade agreements (FTAs) and deeper engagement with both established and emerging markets are expected to create further avenues for export expansion.
At the same time, efforts to move towards higher-value activities are intended to strengthen Malaysia’s export base and support its longer-term position in global trade.
With external trade continuing to expand, the latest figures point to sustained demand for Malaysian products across major markets while highlighting the importance of strengthening higher-value industries and broadening the country’s international market reach.
