Tuesday 20/01/2026

^{Dato' Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Chairman of MATRADE}


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s trade performance reached an unprecedented historic high in 2025, officially surpassing the RM3 trillion mark for the first time according to statistics release by Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Malaysia’s global trade reached RM3.061 trillion, growing by 6.3% compared to 2024. This shows that the country remains strong and resilient as well as globally competitive despite a complex landscape of geopolitical tensions and supply chain realignments. 
 
A YEAR OF HISTORIC HIGHS
The 2025 performance represents the highest values ever recorded across all major trade pillars:
 
Total Exports: Reached a record RM1.607 trillion, an increase of 6.5%, surpassing the previous record of RM1.550 trillion in 2022, marking the fifth consecutive year exports exceeded the RM1 trillion mark. This was driven by record-high shipments to key partners namely ASEAN (↑4.5% to RM457.62 billion), the United States (US) (↑17.2% to RM233.08 billion), Taiwan (↑31.2% to RM87.95 billion) and the European Union (EU) (↑11.5% to RM129.17 billion), highlighting Malaysia’s critical role in the world’s most advanced technology supply chains.
 
Total Imports: For the fourth consecutive year, imports surpassed the RM1 trillion mark reaching RM1.455 trillion, an increase of 6.2%. Major imports were intermediate and capital goods with a combined share of 64.2%, comprising mainly processed industrial supplies, parts and accessories of non-transport capital goods, and industrial transport equipment. These imports directly support export-oriented industries, particularly in high-value and technology-intensive sectors to meet global demand and sustain export growth.
 
Trade Surplus: Malaysia achieved a surplus of RM151.80 billion, maintaining its 28-year streak of continuous surpluses since 1998. This is an increase of 9.2% compared to RM139 billion in 2024, almost a double digit growth.
 
STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY TO SUPPORT MARKET EXPANSION
Trade with FTA partners surpassed RM2 trillion for the first time, growing by 4% compared to 2024 and accounting for 65.5% of total trade. Meanwhile, exports to FTA partners grew for the second consecutive year, by 3.0 per cent to RM1.067 trillion. Countries that recorded export growth were Hong Kong SAR (↑8.4% to RM96.23 billion), Mexico (↑59.7% to RM30.12 billion), Canada (↑2.1% to RM6.65 billion) and Chile (↑15.3% to RM832.2 million).
 
Malaysia’s export diversification strategy that were implemented in previous years since 2022 led to significant increase in export into emerging markets such as Kenya, which increased by 9.9% y-o-y to RM6.06 billion, Nigeria (↑13.6% to RM2.85 billion), Tanzania (↑38.8% to RM2.02 billion), Togo (↑27.6% to RM1.82 billion), Yemen (↑49.7% to RM937.0 million), Morocco (↑3.8% to RM497.7 million), Algeria (↑15.3% to RM636.9 million), Uzbekistan (↑27.0% to RM463.4 million),  Angola (↑18.9% to RM1.06 billion), Puerto Rico (↑10.0% to RM143.0 million) and Kyrgyzstan (↑225.8% to RM111.9 million) with some markets reaching high record values. 
 
Among the key top exports were palm oil & palm oil-based products, petroleum products, wood products and E&E products.
 
GRATITUDE TO THE MADANI GOVERNMENT
Reflecting on these achievements, Dato' Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Chairman of MATRADE, expressed his profound gratitude to the MADANI Government. 
 
“The robust growth in 2025, particularly in emerging markets and with Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners, was significantly bolstered by high-level diplomatic official visits by the Prime Minister to regions such as Africa, Latin America and Central Asia that have paved the way for deeper economic ties and expanded market access,” the Chairman said.  
 
"This historic achievement is a testament to the strong stewardship of the MADANI Government and the unwavering commitment of all stakeholders. The policy support provided through the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (RMKe-12) and the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP 2030) has been instrumental in elevating Malaysia's standing in high-value and technology-driven global supply chains".
 
Dato' Seri Reezal Merican also expressed his appreciation to newly appointed Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) YB Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who had led a number of trade missions that has successfully promoted and expanded exports of our key commodities, in particular palm oil to Malaysia’s major and emerging markets during his previous role as Minister of Plantations and Commodities. Exports of palm oil and palm oil-based products which made up 7.8% of Malaysia’s total export, increased by 9.2% to RM124.86 billion, driven by higher export prices and expansion into key and  emerging markets such as India, China, Turkiye, Afghanistan, Togo, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Mozambique and Yemen.
 
According to Mr. Abu Bakar Yusof, CEO of MATRADE, “Moving forward, MATRADE remains steadfast in its role to facilitate and support our MSMEs and business communities in mitigating global challenges. We will continue to intensify our export promotion and development programmes, ensuring that Malaysian products and services successfully expand into new export markets. Our goal is to empower local businesses to navigate supply chain realignments and protectionist risks by leveraging our extensive global network and Free Trade Agreements. We remain focused on empowering Malaysian exporters, particularly MSMEs, to seize new opportunities across the globe."  
 
“This remarkable achievement in 2025 is also attributed to the “whole of government approach” under the JK-X chaired by Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) and supported by relevant Ministries and Agencies that streamlines the trade promotion activities overseas through greater collaboration and partnership,” he added.
 
About MATRADE

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) was established on 1 March 1993 as the national trade promotional arm under Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). MATRADE's primary role is to assist Malaysian exporters in developing and expanding their export markets. Aligned with Malaysia's commercial diplomacy efforts, MATRADE is the nation's trade facilitator and champion of Malaysian-made products and services on the global stage.

Source: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Ms. Aninawati Saleh 
Head of Corporate Communication
Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE)
Tel: 03 – 6207 7077 (7826)
Email: communication@matrade.gov.my

--BERNAMA