Overview

KEY FACTS :

• On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, exports increased RM3.3 billion (+5.2%) to RM66.5 billion. In seasonally adjusted terms, exports rose 2.3%.
• On a m-o-m basis, imports decreased RM4.5 billion (-7.4%) to RM56.3 billion. In seasonally adjusted terms, imports fell 3.9%.
• On a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, exports grew RM2.6 billion (+4.1%) from RM63.9 billion.
• On a y-o-y basis, imports decreased RM3.7 billion (-6.1%) from RM60.0 billion.
• On a m-o-m basis, exports increased due to higher exports to Singapore (+RM1.1 billion), Thailand (+RM996.1 million), European Union(+RM656.5 million), United States of America (+RM497.5 million), Pakistan (+RM249.3 million).
• On a m-o-m basis, decrease in imports were mainly from European Union (-RM1.1 billion), Australia (-RM859.1 million), People’s Republic of China (-RM661.6 million), Republic of Korea (-RM509.5 million) and Taiwan (-RM328.9 million).

TRADE

Total trade in August 2015, which was valued at RM122.9 billion, decreased RM1.2 billion (-1.0%) from the previous month. It also posted a drop of RM1.0 billion or 0.8% from a year ago. In August 2015, a trade surplus of RM10.2 billion was recorded, an expansion of RM7.8 billion or 330.6% from the previous month. It also grew 163.3% or RM6.3 billion from a year ago.

EXPORTS

On a m-o-m basis, exports increased 5.2% from RM63.2 billion. The main products contributing to the increase were:

• Electrical and electronics (E&E) products, which contributed 37.7% to total exports, grew RM2.0 billion or 8.6% to RM25.1 billion; and

• Refined petroleum products, which accounted for 5.5% to total exports, grew RM628.2 million or 20.8% to RM3.6 billion due to the increase in both export volume (+14.8%) and average unit value (+5.2%).

However, declines were recorded for the following products:

• Palm oil and palm-based products, (8.4% of total exports), decreased RM206.1 million or 3.6% to RM5.6 billion. Exports of palm oil, the major commodity in this group of products, fell RM182.7 million or 4.8% and this was attributed to the drop in both export volume (-3.6%) and average unit value (-1.3%);
• Crude petroleum (2.5% of total exports), declined RM195.3 million (-10.3%) to RM1.7 billion due to the decrease in average unit value (-17.1%) although export volume expanded 8.2%;
• Natural rubber (0.6% of total exports), declined RM79.6 million or 16.4% to RM404.5 million due to the drop in both export volume (-15.6%) and average unit value (-1.0%);
• Liquefied natural gas (LNG), which accounted for 4.5% of total exports, dropped RM75.2 million or 2.4% to RM3.0 billion due to the decline in export volume (-8.5%) although average unit value rose 6.6%;  and
• Timber and timber-based products, which contributed 2.7% of total exports, dropped RM54.7 million or 3.0% to RM1.8 billion.

Exports, 2011-2015

On a y-o-y basis, exports grew RM2.6 billion (+4.1%) due to:

• E&E products increased RM3.6 billion (+16.7%) from RM21.5 billion;
• Palm oil and palm based-products rose RM110.8 million (+2.0%) from RM5.5 billion. Exports of palm oil grew RM80.6 million or 2.3% due to the increase in export volume (+9.6%) although average unit value dropped 6.7%;
• Timber and timber-based products, expanded RM89.9 million or 5.3% from RM1.7 billion; and
• Natural rubber grew RM88.9 million or 28.1% from RM315.6 million due to the higher export volume (+23.9%) and average unit value (+3.4%).

However, the following products recorded declines:

• LNG, decreased RM2.2 billion (-42.3%) from RM5.2 billion due to the decline in both average unit value (-33.9%) and export volume (-12.7%);
• Crude petroleum decreased RM1.2 billion or 41.2% from RM2.9 billion due to both lower average unit value (-37.3%) and export volume (-6.3%); and
• Refined petroleum products, declined RM945.8 million (-20.6%) from RM4.6 billion due to the decrease in both average unit value (-20.4%) and export volume (-0.3%).

Seasonally Adjusted Figure

On a m-o-m basis seasonally adjusted terms for exports rose RM1.5 billion (+2.3%) to RM65.2 billion.

IMPORTS

On a m-o-m basis, imports decreased 7.4% from RM60.9 billion. The reduction was attributed to lower imports of intermediate goods, consumption goods and capital goods.

• Intermediate Goods

These goods which constituted 57.7% of total imports decreased RM4.2 billion (-11.4%) to RM32.5 billion. The decrease were mainly attributed to fuel & lubricants, processed, other (-RM2.2 billion, -59.3%), industrial supplies, processed (-RM899.6 million, -6.9%) and parts & accessories of capital goods (except transport equipment) (-RM898.1 million,-6.9%).

•  Consumption Goods

Imports of consumption goods which accounted for 8.5% of total imports declined RM479.6 million (-9.1%) to RM4.8 billion. The main components attributing to the decline were semi-durables (-RM146.0 million, -12.6%) and food & beverages, processed,mainly for household consumption (-RM123.3 million, -8.6%).

•  Capital Goods

Imports of these goods which represented 13.1% of total imports decreased RM121.1 million or 1.6% to RM7.4 billion due to the decline in transport equipment, industrial (-RM231.2 million, -30.3%).

Imports, 2011-2015

On a y-o-y basis, imports decreased RM3.7 billion or 6.1% to RM56.3 billion. The drop in imports was attributed to intermediate goods and capital goods.

• Intermediate Goods

These goods fell RM5.1 billion (-13.7%) from RM37.6 billion. The main components which contributed to the decrease were industrial supplies, processed (-RM1.7 billion, -12.3%), parts & accessories of capital goods (except transport equipment) (-RM1.2 billion, -9.0%), fuel & lubricants, primary (-RM1.2 billion, -40.7%) and fuel & lubricants, processed, others (-RM999.9 million, -39.6%).

•  Capital Goods

Imports of capital goods fell RM1.2 billion or 13.9% from RM8.6 billion mainly due to the decline in transport equipment, industrial (-RM1.4 billion, -72.0%). However, capital goods (except for transport equipment) increased RM169.3 million or 2.5%.

•  Consumption Goods

Imports of consumption goods rose RM576.6 million (+13.7%) from RM4.2 billion. The main components contributing to the increase were semi-durables (+RM327.5 million, +48.1%) and non-durables (+RM175.5 million, +18.1%).

Seasonally Adjusted Figure

On a m-o-m basis seasonally adjusted terms, imports decreased RM2.2 billion (-3.9%) to RM55.5 billion.

MARKET SHARE

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

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

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

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

Exports, Jan – Aug 2015, percentage share

Imports, Jan – Aug 2015, percentage share

Released By:

THE OFFICE OF CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
07 OCTOBER 2015

Contact person:
Norrita binti Amran
Public Relation Officer
Corporate and User Services Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
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