KEY FACTS

• In October 2019, exports slipped by 6.7% to RM90.6 billion year-on-year (y-o-y) due to high base in October 2018 which was the highest value ever recorded. Re-exports was valued at RM18.5 billion registering a decline of 10.2% y-o-y and accounted for 20.4% of total exports. Domestic exports also registered a decline of 5.8% or RM4.4 billion to RM72.1 billion.
• Imports amounted to RM73.3 billion, a contraction of 8.7% from October 2018.
• However, on a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, exports increased 16.6% from RM77.7 billion. In seasonally adjusted terms, exports increased 13.2%.
• On a m-o-m basis, imports also recorded a growth of 5.6% from RM69.4 billion. In seasonally adjusted terms, imports increased 1.5%.
• On a y-o-y basis, exports fell due to the decline in exports to Australia (-RM2.0 billion), China (-RM1.7 billion), Japan (-RM1.4 billion) and Thailand
  (-RM1.1 billion). However, exports increased to Singapore (+RM549.9 million) and Taiwan (+RM439.8 million).
• On a y-o-y basis, lower imports were mainly from Taiwan (-RM1.6 billion), Singapore (-RM1.1 billion), the European Union (-RM1.0 billion), China
  (-RM910.0 million), Saudi Arabia (-RM818.7 million) and Republic of Korea (-RM708.0 million). However, imports increased from Australia (+RM757.0 million) and the United States (+RM435.4 million).

TRADE 

Total trade stood at RM163.9 billion, declining 7.6% or RM13.5 billion compared to October 2018. However, it rose 11.4% or RM16.8 billion when compared to the previous month. The trade surplus was valued at RM17.3 billion and recorded an increase of RM474.3 million (+2.8%) from a year ago. It also posted an increase of RM9.0 billion or 107.4% as compared to the previous month.

EXPORTS

On a y-o-y basis, exports decreased 6.7% from RM97.1 billion. All main products were attributed to the decline.

• Crude petroleum, which contributed 2.1% to total exports, dropped RM1.9 billion or 50.5% to RM1.9 billion due to the decrease in both export volume (-40.8%) and average unit value (-16.4%); 
• Refined petroleum products, which accounted for 5.4% of total exports, shrank RM1.8 billion or 27.2% to RM4.9 billion due to the drop in both average unit value (-16.3%) and export volume (-13.0%);
• Electrical and electronic (E&E) products (41.3% of total exports), declined RM1.2 billion (-3.2%) to RM37.4 billion;
• Liquefied natural gas (LNG), which accounted for 4.0% of total exports decreased RM745.5 million or 17.1% to RM3.6 billion due to the decrease in average unit value (-19.0%) as export volume increased 2.4%;
• Palm oil and palm oil-based products (6.2% of total exports), shrank RM572.5 million (-9.3%) to RM5.6 billion. Exports of palm oil, the major commodity in this group of products decreased RM354.0 million or 9.8% due to the decline in both export volume (-5.5%) and average unit value (-4.5%);
• Timber and timber-based products, which contributed 2.3% to total exports decreased RM84.6 million or 3.9% to RM2.1 billion; and
• Natural rubber (0.3% of total exports) dropped RM14.7 million or 4.7% to RM300.0 million due to the decrease in export volume (-6.6%) as average unit value increased 2.1%.

On a m-o-m basis, exports grew RM12.9 billion (+16.6%) from RM77.7 billion. All main products were contributed to the expansion.

• E&E products increased RM8.4 billion (+28.8%) from RM29.0 billion; 
• Crude petroleum rose RM415.4 million or 28.4% from RM1.5 billion due to the increase in both export volume (+26.0%) and average unit value (+2.0%); 
• Palm oil and palm oil-based products grew RM392.8 million or 7.5% from RM5.2 billion. Exports of palm oil increased RM211.0 million or 6.9% due to the increase in both export volume (+5.6%) and average unit value (+1.3%); 
• LNG increased RM361.3 million or 11.1% from RM3.3 billion due to the increase in export volume (+17.7%) as average unit value decreased 5.6%; 
• Timber and timber-based products increased RM206.4 million (+11.1%) from RM1.9 billion; 
• Refined petroleum products grew RM182.5 million (+3.9%) from RM4.7 billion due to the increase in export volume (+4.7%) as average unit value decreased 0.8%; and
• Natural rubber grew RM8.2 million or 2.8% from RM291.8 million due to the rise in export volume (+5.3%) as average unit value decreased 2.3%.

Exports to Country of Destination

The two major destinations for Malaysia’s exports in October 2019 were Singapore (15.4% of total exports) and China (15.0% of total exports). 

Exports to Singapore amounted to RM13.9 billion recording an increase of RM550.0 million (+4.1%) as compared to the previous year. The main products which attributed to the rise were: 

• Crude petroleum (3.5% of total exports), increased RM294.0 million or 150.4% to RM490.2 million; and
• Palm oil and palm oil-based products (1.7% of total exports), increased   RM95.8 million or 69.7% to RM233.3 million.

Exports to China which were valued at RM13.6 billion declined RM1.7 billion (-11.0%) as compared to October 2018. The main products which attributed to the decrease were:

• E&E products, which contributed 32.9% of total exports, fell RM1.2 billion (-21.5%) to RM4.5 billion; and
• Refined petroleum products (4.2% of total exports), declined RM540.0 million or 48.6% to RM572.2 million.

Seasonally Adjusted Figure

On a m-o-m basis seasonally adjusted terms, exports increased RM10.2 billion (+13.2%) to RM87.0 billion.

Exports, 2015-2019

IMPORTS

On a y-o-y basis, imports decreased RM7.0 billion or 8.7% from RM80.3 billion. All main categories of imports by end use recorded decreases.

• Intermediate Goods

These goods which constituted 51.2% of total imports decreased RM2.0 billion (-5.1%) to RM37.5 billion. The decrease was mainly attributed to parts & accessories of capital goods (except transport equipment) (-RM1.7 billion, -16.8%) and fuel & lubricants, primary (-RM1.6 billion, -40.5%).  
However, imports of industries supplies, processed and industries supplies, primary increased RM936.0 million (+5.8%) and RM932.9 million (+46.6%) respectively.

• Capital Goods

Imports of capital goods, which accounted for 11.6% of total imports, declined RM1.1 billion (-11.5%) to RM8.5 billion due to the decrease in both capital goods (except transport equipment) (-RM702.5 million, -8.1%) and transport equipment industrial (-RM400.4 million, -42.5%). 

• Consumption Goods
  Imports of consumption goods which constituted for 8.4% of total imports shrank RM322.8 million (-5.0%) to RM6.1 billion. The decline was mainly attributed to non-durables (-RM134.8 million, -7.6%), semi-durables (-RM126.3 million, -10.5%) and durables (-RM125.8 million, -14.6%). However, food & beverages, primary, mainly for household consumption increased RM107.2 million or 14.0%.

On a m-o-m basis, imports increased RM3.9 billion or 5.6% from RM69.4 billion. The growth in imports was mainly attributed to capital goods and consumption goods.

• Capital Goods

Imports of capital goods increased RM645.3 million (+8.2%) from RM7.8 billion due to the increase in both capital goods (except transport equipment (+RM417.7 million, +5.6%) and transport equipment, industrial (+RM227.6 million, +72.6%).

• Consumption Goods

Imports of consumption goods registered an increase of RM198.4 million (+3.3%) from RM5.9 billion. The increase was due to food & beverages, processed, mainly for household consumption (+RM149.8 million, +9.5%).

• Intermediate Goods

These goods declined RM2.4 billion (-6.1%) from RM39.9 billion. The main components attributed to the decline were parts & accessories of capital goods (except transport equipment) (-RM4.1 billion, -32.1%). However, industrial supplies, processed and food & beverages, processed, mainly for industries rose RM1.6 billion or 10.3% and RM521.5 million or 78.8% respectively.

Imports by Country of Origin

The two main sources of Malaysia’s import in October 2019 were China (18.9% of total imports) and Singapore (12.4% of total imports). Imports from China which registered RM13.9 billion shrank RM910.0 million (-6.2%) as compared to October 2018. The main product which attributed to the decrease was E&E products, which contributed 39.5% of total imports, declined RM563.0 million or 9.3% to RM5.5 billion.

Imports from Singapore declined RM1.1 billion (-10.9%) to RM9.1 billion from a year ago. The main product which attributed to the decrease was refined petroleum products (33.3% of total imports), decreased RM1.2 billion or 29.0% to RM3.0 billion. However, the imports of E&E products (35.7% of total imports), increased RM360.2 million or 12.5% to RM3.2 billion.

Seasonally Adjusted Figure

On a m-o-m basis seasonally adjusted terms, imports increased RM1.1 billion (+1.5%) to RM70.0 billion.

Imports, 2015-2019

MARKET SHARE

The following charts show Malaysia's major trading partners for January–October 2019.

Total Trade by Major Countries, Jan – Oct 2019, percentage share 

Exports and Imports by Major Countries, Jan – Oct 2019, percentage share

The following charts show Malaysia’s trade with ASEAN countries for the period January - October 2019.

Exports, Jan – Oct 2019, percentage share 

Imports, Jan – Oct 2019, percentage share

#Notes:

1. The October 2019 data is provisional and subject to revision in later issues.
2. This report can be accessed through the web portal of the Department of Statistics, Malaysia (https://www.dosm.gov.my) under section: Latest Release.
 

Released By:

DATO' SRI DR. MOHD UZIR MAHIDIN
CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
 DrUzir_Mahidin       Dr_Uzir

4 DECEMBER 2019

Contact person:

Rohaida binti Mohamad 
Public Relation Officer
Strategic Communication and International Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Tel : +603-8885 7942
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : rohaida.mohamad[at]dosm.gov.my