KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s exports in October 2016 amounted to RM69.2 billion, the highest recorded thus far in 2016, according to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Compared to September 2016, exports increased by 1.7%. Total trade increased by 0.1% to RM128.63 billion while imports were lower by 1.7% to RM59.44 billion. Trade surplus widened to RM9.76 billion from RM7.56 billion in September 2016. The October surplus was the 228th consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997.
Due to the high-base effect of October 2015, exports for the month declined by 8.6% year-on-year while imports decreased by 6.6%. Overall, trade was lower by 7.7% to RM128.63 billion. Malaysia’s total trade was sustained almost at the same level for the first ten months of 2016, amounting to RM1.206 trillion compared with RM1.210 trillion in the corresponding period in 2015. During the period, exports were lower by 0.6% to RM637.55 billion from RM641.52 billion and imports decreased marginally by 0.1% to RM568.03 billion from RM568.48 billion. Trade surplus of RM69.52 billion was recorded, compared to RM73.04 billion in the same period of 2015. Overall, exports of both manufactured and agricultural goods increased in the first ten months of 2016. Exports of mining goods, however, declined.
