Overview

Malaysia's trade performance maintained a positive trend in August 2026, supported by a double digit increase in exports (+45.5%) and imports (+41.1%), year-on-year (y-o-y). Total trade increased by 43.4 per cent or RM107.2 billion, to reach RM354.0 billion. Furthermore, the trade balance rose by 77.1 per cent or RM12.2 billion from RM15.9  billion to RM28.1 billion as compared to the same period last year. The monthly comparison shows that exports, imports and total trade decreased by 1.3 per cent, 4.7 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively. Meanwhile trade surplus increased 24.7 per cent. Total trade, exports, imports and trade surplus all showed positive trends from January to August 2026. Total trade rose by 27.0 per cent to RM2.5 trillion, driven by increases in exports (+31.2%) and imports (+22.4%). In addition, trade surplus escalated by 127.6 per cent to RM198.7 billion. 

PERFORMANCE OF EXPORT

Malaysia’s exports surged by 45.5 per cent y-o-y to RM191.0 billion in August 2026. The positive export growth was mainly contributed by increases in domestic exports and re-exports. Domestic exports valued at RM151.0 billion (79.0% of total exports), increased by 46.0 per cent or RM47.6 billion. Re-exports (21.0% of total exports) registered a growth of 43.3 per cent or RM12.1 billion from RM28.0 billion to RM40.1 billion. Concurrently, monthly comparison showed exports dropped by 1.3 per cent or RM2.5 billion from RM193.6 billion to RM191.0 billion. Based on month-on-month (m-o-m) seasonally adjusted terms analysis, exports up by 1.3 per cent to RM192.1 billion.

PERFORMANCE OF IMPORT

Imports recorded double-digit growth of 41.1 per cent or RM47.5 billion, rising from RM115.5 billion to RM163.0 billion in August 2026. On a m-o-m basis, imports dropped by 4.7 per cent or RM8.1 billion. According to the m-o-m seasonally adjusted terms analysis, imports increased marginally by 1.2 per cent to RM165.0 billion. Imports by End Use increased, y-o-y, with an increase in intermediate goods (+50.5%), capital goods (+37.4%) mean while consumption goods decline 1.6%. 

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