Malaysia’s external trade maintained strong momentum in March 2026, with total trade in goods rising 9.3 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM273.0 billion, driven by higher exports and imports, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Total trade increased by RM23.1 billion compared with March 2025, while exports rose 8.3 per cent or RM11.4 billion to RM148.8 billion.
Imports expanded at a faster pace, climbing 10.4 per cent or RM11.7 billion to RM124.2 billion.
As a result, Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of RM24.6 billion in March, although this was slightly lower by RM215.5 million compared with the same month last year.
On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, exports, imports, total trade and trade balance all posted strong gains compared with February 2026.
Exports rose 13.6 per cent, imports increased 8.7 per cent, total trade expanded 11.3 per cent, while the trade surplus surged 47.0 per cent.
DOSM said exports continued to strengthen, supported by growth in both re-exports and domestic exports.
Re-exports jumped 38.3 per cent or RM10.5 billion to RM37.9 billion, accounting for 25.5 per cent of total exports.
Domestic exports also edged up 0.9 per cent or RM957.8 million to RM110.9 billion, representing 74.5 per cent of total exports.
However, based on seasonally adjusted month-on-month analysis, exports declined 2.7 per cent to RM141.7 billion.
Imports also maintained positive momentum, rising 10.4 per cent y-o-y to RM124.2 billion.
Compared with February, imports grew by 8.7 per cent or RM10.0 billion.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, however, imports contracted by 6.5 per cent month-on-month to RM119.6 billion.
By end-use category, capital goods imports recorded the strongest growth, increasing by RM3.2 billion or 24.7 per cent year-on-year.
Meanwhile, imports of intermediate goods and consumption goods declined by RM635.7 million or 1.1 per cent, and RM760.1 million or 7.8 per cent, respectively.
The March trade data reflects continued resilience in Malaysia’s external sector, supported by stronger export activity and sustained demand for capital goods, despite softer imports of intermediate and consumer goods.
