Malaysia recorded its strongest trade growth in nearly four years in May 2026, with exports and trade surplus both reaching new monthly highs as demand for electrical and electronic products, petroleum goods and LNG continued to strengthen across key global markets
Malaysia’s trade performance accelerated sharply in May 2026, with total trade rising by 29.8% year-on-year to RM327.63 billion, marking the country’s fastest growth in 44 months.
According to the latest external trade statistics released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), exports continued their strong upward momentum for the 11th consecutive month, surging 45.3% to a new all-time high of RM184.00 billion. This surpassed the previous monthly record set in April 2026 and represented the fastest export growth since August 2022.
Imports also increased during the month, though at a more moderate pace of 14.1% to RM143.62 billion.
The strong export performance pushed Malaysia’s trade surplus to a new monthly record of RM40.38 billion, as export growth significantly outpaced imports. It also marked the 73rd consecutive month of trade surplus since May 2020.
E&E Products Continue to Drive Export Growth
Malaysia’s export growth in May was largely supported by the continued expansion of manufactured goods and mining products, both of which posted double-digit growth.
Among the biggest contributors were electrical and electronic (E&E) products, which remained the key driver of export performance. Exports of E&E products increased by RM38 billion to a new record high, supported by sustained demand for artificial intelligence-related technologies and automotive technologies.
The strong performance was also reinforced by higher exports of petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and optical and scientific equipment, reflecting continued demand across a broad range of industrial and technology-linked sectors.
Broad-Based Growth Across Major Export Markets
Malaysia’s export momentum remained broad-based in May, with all major trading partners recording strong double-digit growth.
These included ASEAN, the People’s Republic of China, the United States, Taiwan and the European Union. Exports to Taiwan and the EU also reached new record highs during the month, signalling sustained external demand despite ongoing uncertainty in the global trade environment.
Malaysia’s network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) also continued to support export expansion by opening access to a wider range of markets. This contributed to higher exports to countries such as Mexico, the United Kingdom, Canada and Pakistan, across a diverse mix of products.
Trade Performance Remains Strong in the First Five Months of 2026
For the period from January to May 2026, Malaysia’s trade performance remained on a firm upward trajectory.
Total trade rose by 18.3% compared with the same period in 2025 to reach RM1.455 trillion. Exports increased by 24.3% to RM793.84 billion, while imports expanded by 11.8% to RM661.07 billion.
This resulted in a trade surplus of RM132.77 billion.
Notably, trade, exports, imports and trade surplus all recorded historic highs for the January to May period, underlining the resilience of Malaysia’s external trade sector in the face of global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
Resilience Amid Global Trade Uncertainty
Despite heightened uncertainty in international trade, Malaysia’s external trade performance has remained resilient, with E&E products continuing to anchor export growth.
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) said it will continue to monitor global trade developments closely while working alongside the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) to strengthen proactive measures aimed at preserving Malaysia’s trade resilience and sustaining growth momentum in the months ahead.
Looking Ahead
Malaysia’s latest trade figures point to continued strength in export-oriented sectors, particularly those tied to electronics, advanced manufacturing and energy-related products. With demand from major markets remaining robust and exports expanding across both traditional and FTA-linked destinations, the country has entered the second half of 2026 with strong external trade momentum.
At the same time, the latest data highlights the importance of maintaining competitiveness in high-growth sectors such as semiconductors, AI-linked electronics and advanced industrial products, especially as the global trade environment remains volatile.
Further details on Malaysia’s trade performance for May 2026 and January to May 2026 are available in the appendix and notes accompanying the official report by MITI and DOSM.
