Kuala Lumpur, 14 August 2026 – Malaysia’s external trade reached a record RM1.796 trillion in the first half of 2026, rising 22.4% from a year earlier as exports and imports expanded despite geopolitical tension, logistics disruption and uneven global demand. The scale of the increase gives investors a clearer view of how deeply the country is embedded in regional manufacturing and technology supply chains.
Exports advanced 27.5% to RM971.59 billion, while imports grew 16.9% to RM824.44 billion. That produced a trade surplus of RM147.15 billion, with exports, imports and the surplus all reaching record levels for the January-to-June period. June added further momentum as monthly trade climbed 44.7% year on year to RM340.89 billion, the highest monthly value recorded.
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