KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s exports slid 0.6 per cent in January from a year earlier, wrong footing expectations for a rise as demand from China slumped, while imports also came in well below forecasts with a fall of 5.3 per cent.
The faster fall in imports resulted in the trade surplus widening to RM9.01 billion (S$3.37 billion) in January from RM6.4 billion in the same month a year ago.
A Reuters poll had forecast a 3.0 per cent rise in exports, and a 2.0 per cent rise in imports.
Exports remain supported by shipments of electrical and electronic products, partially offsetting lower exports of commodities.
