KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s total trade in May 2015 rose by 1.3 per cent to RM115.4 billion compared with the previous month while exports remained steady at RM60.45 billion and imports increased by 2.76 per cent to RM54.94 billion.
A trade surplus of RM5.51 billion was recorded in May 2015, making it the 211th consecutive monthly trade surplus since November 1997, said the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) yesterday.
For the period of January-May 2015, MITI said total trade was valued at RM574.44 billion while the trade surplus was recorded at RM33.71 billion, with exports totalling RM304.08 billion and imports amounting to RM270.36 billion.
“On a year-on-year basis, both exports and imports in May 2015 contracted by 6.7 per cent and 7.2 per cent, respectively.
“Total trade registered a decrease of 6.9 per cent compared with a year ago, similar to the trade performance of regional economies impacted by subdued global demand,” it said.
For January-May 2015, MITI said exports of manufactured goods amounted to RM240.83 billion, accounting for 79.2 per cent of total exports, while exports of mining goods were valued at RM36.65 billion (12.1 per cent) and exports of agricultural goods stood at RM24.73 billion (8.1 per cent).
Higher exports of manufactured goods were recorded for electrical and electronics (E&E) products by RM3.34 billion; machinery, appliances and parts (RM1.68 billion); rubber products (RM707.9 million); iron and steel products (RM614.9 million); optical and scientific equipment (RM420.2 million); chemicals and chemical products (RM412.1 million); as well as processed food (RM235.6 million).
Meanwhile, during the period under review, the ministry said imports decreased by 2.8 per cent to RM270.36 billion.
“The three main categories of imports by end-use were intermediate goods valued at RM160.41 billion which accounted for a 59.3 per cent share of total imports and decreased by 0.6 per cent, followed by capital goods and consumption goods.
On a month-to-month basis, MITI said total imports in May 2015 decreased by 7.2 per cent to RM54.94 billion from May 2014.
“The three main categories of imports by end-use were intermediate goods valued at RM31.66 billion which accounted for a 57.6 per cent share of total imports and decreased by 8.4 per cent, followed by capital goods and consumption goods,” it added. — Bernama