Overview
Malaysia’s total trade ended 2025 on a high note with double-digit growth in exports and imports, signalling a stronger economic foundation. Total trade recorded an increase of 11.1 per cent or RM28.7 billion to reach a value of RM286.6 billion as compared to RM257.9 billion in the previous year.
Imports showed a positive trend in December 2025 with an increase of 12.0 per cent or RM14.3 billion to RM133.7 billion. Moreover, exports recorded an increase by 10.4 per cent or RM14.3 billion to RM153.0 billion. Trade balance recorded a surplus of RM19.3 billion, rose marginally by 0.1 per cent from RM19.3 billion in December 2025.
As compared to November 2025, exports, imports, total trade and trade surplus recorded positive growth of 13.4 per cent, 3.7 per cent, 8.7 per cent and 216.8 per cent, respectively.
For the fourth quarter (Q4) 2025, exports imports and total trade also recorded an expansion as compared to Q4 2024 by 11.0 per cent, 12.6 per cent and 11.7 per cent, respectively. However, trade surplus downed marginally by 0.6 per cent to RM45.8 billion.
Exports, imports, total trade and trade surplus for the period of January to December 2025 rose by 6.5 per cent, 6.2 per cent, 6.3 per cent and 9.2 per cent, respectively, as compared to the same period of the preceding year.
Performance of Exports
Malaysia's exports recorded an increased of 10.4 per cent as compared to the same month in 2024, in line with the rise in re-exports and domestic exports. Re-exports constituted 25.0 per cent of total exports, increased by 35.0 per cent from RM28.3 billion to RM38.2 billion.
Moreover, domestic exports were valued at RM114.8 billion, comprised 75.0 per cent of total exports, an increase of 4.0 per cent from RM110.3 billion in the previous year. In addition, a monthly comparison showed that exports up by 13.4 per cent or RM18.0 billion.
Regarding the analysis of the seasonally adjusted terms month-on-month (m-o-m), exports were up by 6.5 per cent to RM143.4 billion.
Performance of Imports
Malaysia's imports in December 2025 continued to grow by 12.0 per cent or RM14.3 billion, reaching a value of RM133.7 billion as compared to December 2024. As compared to November 2025, imports rose by 3.7 per cent or RM4.8 billion.
Analysis in seasonally adjusted terms, m-o-m, imports grew by 3.7 per cent to RM132.2 billion.
On a y-o-y basis, imports by End Use recorded an increase for consumption goods and intermediate goods. Imports of consumption goods rose to RM13.1 billion (+27.6%), followed by an increase in intermediate goods to RM63.2 billion (+3.6%). However, capital goods declined by 11.8 per cent to RM15.3 billion.
