Overview

KEY FACTS

• On a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, exports decreased RM5.9 billion (-8.8%) to RM60.4 billion. 
• On a y-o-y basis, imports declined RM4.0 billion (-7.0%) to RM53.5 billion.
• On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, exports also decreased RM6.1 billion (-9.2%) from RM66.5 billion. In seasonally adjusted terms, exports decreased 3.4%.
• On a m-o-m basis, imports was lower by RM5.2 billion (-8.8%) from RM58.6 billion. In seasonally adjusted terms, imports also decreased 7.2%.
• On a y-o-y basis, exports fell due to the decrease in exports to Japan (-RM1.8 billion), Singapore (-RM1.4 billion), Hong Kong (-RM727.1 million), Taiwan (-RM445.0 million) and Philippines (-RM420.6 million).                   
• On a y-o-y basis, the decrease in imports were mainly from  Singapore (-RM1.1 billion), Republic of Korea (-RM930.5 million), European Union (-RM872.7 million), Australia (-RM726.2 million) and Russian Federation (-RM508.4 million).

TRADE

Total trade in April 2015, which was valued at RM113.9 billion, decreased RM9.9 billion or 8.0% from a year ago. It posted a drop of 9.0% or RM11.2 billion from the previous month. A trade surplus of RM6.9 billion was recorded in April 2015, a decline of 21.2% from RM8.7 billion registered a year ago. It also fell 11.9% when compared with the previous month. A trade surplus of RM6.9 billion was recorded in April 2015, a decline of 21.2% from RM8.7 billion registered a year ago. It also fell 11.9% when compared with the previous month.

EXPORTS

On a y-o-y basis, exports decreased 8.8% from RM66.2 billion. The main commodities which contributed to the decline were:

• Refined petroleum products, which accounted for 4.5% of total exports, fell RM2.5 billion or 48.2% to RM2.7 billion due to the decrease in both export volume (-31.3%) and average unit value (-24.6%);
• Liquefied natural gas (LNG), which contributed 5.3% to total exports, dropped 40.1% or RM2.1 billion to RM3.2 billion as a result of  both lower average unit value (-31.0%) and export volume (-13.3%);
• Crude petroleum (3.2% of total exports), fell RM1.5 billion (-43.7%) to RM1.9 billion mainly due to the decline in both average unit value (-39.8%) and export volume (-6.5%);
• Palm oil and palm-based products, which contributed 7.6% to total exports, declined RM876.8 million (-16.1%) to RM4.6 billion. Exports of palm oil, the major commodity in this group of products fell 20.6% or RM722.8 million due to the decrease in both average unit value (-14.5%) and export volume (-7.1%);
• Electrical and electronics (E&E) products, which accounted 34.8% of total exports, decreased RM660.5 million (-3.0%) to RM21.0 billion; and
• Natural rubber (0.4% of total exports), declined RM166.8 million (-38.3%) to RM268.9 million due to the decrease in both export volume (-24.0%) and average unit value (-18.8%).

However, the following product recorded an increase:

• Timber and timber-based products, which contributed 3.0% to total exports, increased RM6.3 million or 0.3% to RM1.8 billion.
   

Exports, 2011-2015

On a m-o-m basis, exports dropped RM6.1 billion (-9.2%) due to:

• E&E products, declined RM3.0 billion (-12.5%) from RM24.0 billion;
• LNG, decreased RM2.2 billion (-41.2%) from RM5.4 billion due to the decline in both average unit value (-23.7%) and export volume (-22.8%);
• Refined petroleum products, declined RM733.6 million (-21.3%) from RM3.4 billion. The decline was mainly attributed to lower export volume (-23.4%) although average unit value increased 2.7%;
• Palm oil and palm based-products declined RM268.6 million or 5.5% from RM4.8 billion. Exports of palm oil decreased 2.9% or RM83.8 million due to lower export volume (-2.4%) and average unit value (-0.6%);
• Natural rubber, dropped RM60.6 million (-18.4%) from RM329.4 million due to lower export volume (-19.8%) as average unit value increased 1.8%;
• Timber and timber-based products, fell RM14.1 million or 0.8% from RM1.8 billion; and
• Crude petroleum fell 0.6% or RM11.6 million from RM1.9 billion due to the decrease of 2.2% in export volume as average unit value rose 1.7%.

Seasonally Adjusted Figure

On a m-o-m basis seasonally adjusted terms, exports declined RM2.1 billion (-3.4%) to RM60.8 billion.

IMPORTS

On a y-o-y basis, imports decreased 7.0% from RM57.5 billion. The decrease in imports was mainly attributed to intermediate goods and capital goods.

• Intermediate Goods

These goods which constituted 59.5% of total imports dropped RM978.2 million (-3.0%) to RM31.8 billion. The decrease were mainly attributed to industrial supplies, processed (-RM1.3 billion, -10.1%) and fuel & lubricants, primary (-RM1.2 billion, -41.5%).

• Capital Goods

Imports of these goods which represented 13.1% of total imports declined RM1.3 billion or 16.0% to RM7.0 billion due to the decrease in transport equipment, industrial (-RM968.7 million,-71.2%) and capital goods (except transport equipment) (-RM360.6 million, -5.2%).

• Consumption Goods

Imports of consumption goods which accounted for 9.1% of total imports expanded RM535.3 million (+12.4%) to RM 4.9 billion. The main components contributing to the increase were semi-durables (+RM292.0 million, +42.0%), food & beverages, processed, mainly for household consumption (+RM104.9 million, +8.7%) and non-durables (+RM90.0 million, +8.3%).

Imports, 2011-2015

On a m-o-m basis, imports decreased RM5.2 billion or 8.8% to RM53.5 billion. The decline was caused by imports of intermediate goods and capital goods.

• Intermediate Goods

These goods fell RM2.6 billion (-7.7%) from RM34.5 billion. The main components which contributed to the decrease were industrial supplies, processed (-RM1.3 billion, -9.7%), fuel & lubricants, processed, others (-RM1.1 billion, -43.9%), food & beverages, processed, mainly for industries (-RM591.2 million, -40.1%) and industrial supplies, primary (-RM556.6 million, -30.4%).

• Capital Goods

Imports of capital goods dropped RM2.5 billion or 26.7% from RM9.5 billion due to the decrease in capital goods (except for transport equipment)   (-RM1.9 billion, -22.5%) and transport equipment, industrial (-RM631.7 million, -61.7%).

• Consumption Goods

Imports of consumption goods grew RM474.4 million (+10.8%) from RM4.4 billion. The rise was contributed by semi-durables(+RM348.3 million, +54.6%) and food & beverages, primary, mainly for household consumption (+RM96.3 million, +16.5%).
 

Seasonally Adjusted Figure

On a m-o-m basis seasonally adjusted terms, imports fell RM4.1 billion (-7.2%) to RM53.0 billion.

MARKET SHARE

The following charts show Malaysia's major trading partners for January - April 2015.
 

Total Trade by Major Countries, Jan - Apr 2015, percentage share  

Exports and Imports by Major Countries, Jan - Apr 2015, percentage share

The following charts show Malaysia’s trade with ASEAN countries for January - April 2015.

Exports, Jan – Apr 2015, percentage share

Imports, Jan – Apr 2015, percentage share

Released By:

THE OFFICE OF CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
05 JUNE 2015

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