Overview

KEY FACTS :

• On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, exports increased RM9.9 billion (+17.4%) from RM56.7 billion. In seasonally adjusted terms, exports rose 0.9%.
• On a m-o-m basis, imports also grew RM6.0 billion (+12.2%) from RM49.4 billion. In seasonally adjusted terms, imports fell 7.0%.
• On a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, exports grew RM119.7 million (+0.2%) to RM66.6 billion. 
• On a y-o-y basis, imports decreased RM3.3 billion (-5.5%) to RM55.4 billion.
• On a m-o-m basis, exports increased due to the rise in exports to Singapore (+RM1.4 billion), People’s Republic of China (+RM1.3 billion), United States of America (+RM875.4 million), India (+RM774.4 million) and Viet Nam (+RM736.1 million).                   
• On a m-o-m basis, higher imports were mainly from People’s Republic of China (+RM1.1 billion), Taiwan (+RM966.1 million), Thailand (+RM611.9 million), Japan (+RM565.4 million) and Viet Nam (+RM398.7 million).

TRADE

Total trade in March 2016 which was valued at RM122.0 billion posted a growth of RM15.9 billion or 15.0% from the previous month. However, total trade decreased RM3.1 billion or 2.5% from a year ago. In March 2016, a trade surplus of RM11.2 billion was recorded, an expansion of RM3.8 billion or 52.2% from the previous month. It also recorded an increase of RM3.4 billion or 43.1% from a year ago.

EXPORTS

On a m-o-m basis, exports increased 17.4% from RM56.7 billion. The main commodities which contributed to the increase were:

• Electrical and electronic (E&E) products, which accounted for 36.2% of total exports, increased RM4.0 billion (+20.1%) to RM24.1 billion; 
• Palm oil and palm-based products, which contributed 7.8% to total exports, rose RM894.5 million (+20.9%) to RM5.2 billion. Exports of palm oil, the major commodity in this group of products grew RM666.8 million or 27.0% and this was attributed to the rise in both export volume (+21.7%) and average unit value (+4.3%);
• Refined petroleum products (5.3% of total exports) increased RM395.5 million or 12.6% to RM3.5 billion due to the increase in export volume (+13.3%) although average unit value decreased 0.6%;
• Timber and timber-based products which accounted for 2.9% of total exports increased RM369.9 million or 23.5% to RM1.9 billion; and
• Crude petroleum (2.6% of total exports), rose RM180.8 million (+11.5%) to RM1.8 billion mainly due to the increase in both export volume (+8.1%) and average unit value (+3.1%).

However, declines were recorded for the following products:

• Liquefied natural gas (LNG) which contributed 4.6% to total exports, dropped RM155.0 million or 4.8% to RM3.1 billion as a result of lower average unit value (-8.1%) as export volume increased 3.5%; and
• Natural rubber (0.4% of total exports) decreased RM7.6 million or 2.8% to RM265.0 million due to the decrease in average unit value (-4.5%) although export volume expanded 1.8%.

Exports, 2012-2016

On a y-o-y basis, exports grew by RM119.7 million (+0.2%) due to:

• Palm oil and palm based-products increased RM325.6 million or 6.7% from RM4.8 billion. Exports of palm oil rose RM256.2 million or 8.9% and this was contributed by the increase in both export volume (+6.2%) and average unit value (+2.6%);
• E&E products increased RM103.6 million (+0.4%) from RM24.0 billion;
• Timber and timber-based products grew RM101.9 million or 5.5% from RM1.8 billion; and
• Refined petroleum products increased RM80.5 million (+2.3%) from RM3.4 billion due to the increase in export volume (+27.6%) as average unit value decreased 19.8%.

However, the following products recorded a decline:

• LNG decreased RM2.4 billion (-43.7%) from RM5.4 billion due to the decline in both average unit value (-41.4%) and export volume (-4.0%);
• Crude petroleum dropped RM174.7 million (-9.1%) from RM1.9 billion due to the decline in average unit value (-28.1%) although export volume increased 26.4%; and
• Natural rubber fell RM64.4 million or 19.5% from RM329.4 million due to the decrease in both export volume (-12.4%) and average unit value (-8.2%);

Seasonally Adjusted Figure

On a m-o-m basis seasonally adjusted terms, exports rose RM572.7 million (+0.9%) to RM63.0 billion.

IMPORTS

On a m-o-m basis, imports increased 12.2% from RM49.4 billion. The expansion was attributed to higher imports of intermediate goods, consumption goods and capital goods.

• Intermediate Goods

These goods which represented 57.0% of total imports expanded RM4.1 billion (+14.9%) to RM31.6 billion. The increase was mainly contributed by industrial supplies, processed (+RM1.3 billion, +12.7%), parts & accessories  of capital goods (except transport equipment) (+RM874.9 million, +7.7%), fuel & lubricants, processed, others (+RM715.3 million, +1,432.6%) and industrial supplies, primary (+RM385.2 million, +36.7%).

• Consumption Goods

Imports of consumption goods which constituted for 9.6% of total imports expanded RM741.0 million (+16.1%) to RM5.3 billion. The main components contributing to the increase were food & beverages, primary, mainly for household consumption (+RM256.1 million, +41.6%), food & beverages, processed, mainly for household consumption (+RM179.4 million, +13.8%) and non-durables (+RM144.7 million, +12.5%).

• Capital Goods

Imports of these goods which accounted for 13.4% of total imports rose RM518.5 million or 7.5% to RM7.4 billion due to the increase in capital goods (except transport equipment) (+RM1.1 billion, +18.5%).

Imports, 2012-2016

On a y-o-y basis, imports decreased RM3.3 billion or 5.5% to RM55.4 billion. The decrease in imports was mainly attributed to intermediate goods and capital goods.

• Intermediate Goods

These goods fell RM2.9 billion (-8.3%) from RM34.5 billion. The main components which contributed to the decrease were fuel & lubricants, processed, others (-RM1.8 billion, -70.4%), industrial supplies, processed (-RM1.5 billion, -11.4%) and fuel & lubricants, primary (-RM756.6 million, -36.2%).

• Capital Goods

Imports of capital goods declined RM2.1 billion or 22.2% from RM9.5 billion due to the decrease in both capital goods (except for transport equipment) (-RM1.6 billion, -18.4%) and transport equipment, industrial (-RM551.5 million, -53.9%).

• Consumption Goods

Imports of consumption goods rose RM959.7 million (+21.9%) from RM4.4 billion. The rise was contributed by semi-durables (+RM305.1 million, +47.8%), food & beverages, primary, mainly for household consumption (+RM288.5 million, +49.5%) and food & beverages, processed, mainly for household consumption (+RM241.0 million, +19.5%).

Seasonally Adjusted Figure

On a m-o-m basis seasonally adjusted terms, imports declined RM4.0 billion (-7.0%) to RM53.6 billion.

MARKET SHARE

The following charts show Malaysia's major trading partners for January - March 2016.

Total Trade by Major Countries, Jan - Mar 2016, percentage share  

Exports and Imports by Major Countries, Jan - Mar 2016, percentage share

The following charts show Malaysia’s trade with ASEAN countries for,January - March 2016.

Exports, Jan – Mar 2016, percentage share

Imports, Jan – Mar 2016, percentage share

Notes:

# The March 2016 data is provisional and subject to revision in later issues.

Released By:

THE OFFICE OF CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
06 MAY 2016

Contact person:
Ho Mei Kei
Public Relation Officer
Corporate and User Services Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Tel : +603-8885 7942
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : mkho@stats.gov.my

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