Malaysia’s external trade surged to a record high in April 2026, with total trade rising 28.6 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM336.7 billion, supported by robust export growth and stronger imports despite persistent global uncertainties.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), exports jumped 36.9 per cent to an all-time monthly high of RM182.7 billion, while imports increased 20 per cent to RM154 billion.
The strong performance lifted Malaysia’s trade surplus to RM28.8 billion, an increase of RM23.6 billion compared to April 2025.
On a month-on-month basis, exports rose 22.8 per cent, imports climbed 23.9 per cent, while total trade expanded 23.3 per cent from March 2026.
For the first four months of 2026, total trade grew 15.3 per cent to RM1.1 trillion compared with RM977.5 billion recorded in the corresponding period last year.
DOSM said the sharp rise in exports was mainly driven by re-exports, which surged 113.5 per cent or RM38.1 billion to RM71.6 billion, accounting for 39.2 per cent of total exports.
Domestic exports also posted growth, increasing 11.2 per cent or RM11.2 billion to RM111.1 billion, representing 60.8 per cent of total exports.
Compared with March 2026, re-exports rose 88.9 per cent, while domestic exports edged up 0.2 per cent.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, exports climbed 32.2 per cent month-on-month to RM187.4 billion.
Malaysia’s imports continued to record double-digit growth, rising 20 per cent y-o-y or RM25.6 billion to RM154 billion in April.
On a monthly basis, imports increased by RM29.7 billion or 23.9 per cent, while seasonally adjusted imports rose 31.8 per cent to RM157.8 billion.
By end-use category, imports of consumption goods increased 5.6 per cent or RM541.3 million.
However, imports of intermediate goods fell 18.8 per cent or RM11 billion, while capital goods imports declined 20.7 per cent or RM4.9 billion compared with April 2025.
The latest figures underscore Malaysia’s resilient trade performance amid ongoing
