Penang remained Malaysia’s leading trading state in August 2026, followed by Johor and Selangor, with the three states collectively accounting for 80.4% of the country’s RM354 billion total trade, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Malaysia recorded RM191.0 billion in exports and RM163 billion in imports during the month.
Based on DOSM’s state-level shares, Penang ranked first for exports, contributing 51.1% of Malaysia’s total, equivalent to about RM97.6 billion. Johor was second at 17.5%, followed by Selangor at 13.4%, Sarawak at 5.4% and Kuala Lumpur at 3.2%.
Penang also topped the import rankings with a 32.9% share, or approximately RM53.6 billion. Johor followed with 24.5%, Selangor with 21.2%, Kuala Lumpur with 6.9% and Kedah with 4.4%.
Taken together, Penang’s exports and imports amounted to roughly RM151.2 billion, while Johor recorded about RM73.4 billion and Selangor approximately RM60.2 billion in total trade.
Malaysia’s exports jumped 45.5% year-on-year, or RM59.7 billion, in August, with Penang accounting for the bulk of the increase as its exports surged by RM49.2 billion from a year earlier.
Johor recorded the second-largest export increase at RM6.2 billion, followed by Selangor at RM3.0 billion and Sarawak at RM2.2 billion.
Exports declined most sharply in Sabah by RM974.1 million, followed by Terengganu by RM624.1 million and Labuan by RM333.5 million.
Imports increased 41.1% year-on-year, or RM47.5 billion, led again by Penang with a RM24.7 billion increase.
Johor’s imports rose RM14.5 billion, followed by Selangor at RM3.1 billion, Kuala Lumpur at RM2.6 billion and Kedah at RM1.7 billion.
Melaka recorded the largest decline in imports at RM825.2 million, while Labuan and Sarawak saw decreases of RM114.9 million and RM51.0 million respectively.
