Malaysia achieves record RM364.74bil trade in July

Malaysia achieved a record trade value of RM364.74 billion in July 2026. The Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (Miti) reported that total trade for the year had already exceeded RM2 trillion, surpassing the 2025 mark by two months. Exports grew by 38% to RM193.6 billion, while imports rose by 36.4% to RM171.14 billion, marking the 75th consecutive month of a trade surplus since May 2020. Export growth was driven by manufacturing, agriculture, and mining sectors, with electrical and electronic (E&E) products leading at RM32 billion increase from July 2025, attributed to semiconductor demand. Metalliferous ores, metal scrap, and palm oil exports also contributed. Trade with China accounted for 18.2%, the US 12.7%, and Taiwan 8.2% of total trade. ASEAN trade was 26.8%, followed by the EU at 7%, totaling 72.8% of Malaysia’s trade. Cumulative trade for January to July 2026 reached RM2.16 trillion, with exports exceeding RM1 trillion by July, and a trade surplus of RM170.5 billion, more than double the same period in 2025.