• Exports surged to 24.7% yoy; Imports rose by 26.5% yoy in September
• Trade surplus hit all time high at RM26.1bn
• Export returned above RM100bn and hit a new high
• Import growth sustained double-digit growth for the eighth consecutive month
• Global trade remains robust albeit uneven across the regions
• Export growth momentum to remain intact

Malaysia’s export growth surged to 24.7% yoy in September 2021 from RM88.9bn in September 2020 to RM110.8bn. Export value for September reached all-time high and maintained above RM100bn for the fourth time this year. This was the 13th consecutive month of year-on-year expansion since September 2020. Domestic export which contributed 79.1% to the total exports, expanded by 22.4% yoy (Aug: +18.7%; Jul: +5.9%; Jun: +21.0%) to RM87.7bn. The re-exports which were valued at RM23.2bn, surged by 34.1% yoy (Aug: +16.7%; July: +2.0%; Jun: +61.2%). Meanwhile, imports growth rose by 26.5% to RM84.7bn in September compared to 12.5% growth in the previous month. Total trade rose by 25.5% to RM195.5bn, the eighth consecutive month of double-digit growth since February 2021. Trade balance recorded a surplus of RM26.1bn in September, an increase of 19.1% from RM21.9bn from a year ago.

On a month-on-month basis, exports, imports, and total trade posted increases of 16.0%, 14.2%, and 15.2%, respectively. Likewise, the trade surplus expanded by 22.2% during the period. Total trade for 3Q21 was valued at RM546.2bn, increased by 18.1% yoy. Exports totalled RM303.7bn, a rise of 15.8% yoy while imports amounted to RM242.5bn, increasing by 21.0%. A trade surplus of RM61.3bn was recorded for the period, which declined by 1.1%. Compared to 2Q21, exports rose by 0.1% while imports and total trade declined by 1.8% and 0.8%, respectively. Trade surplus widened by 8.7% qoq.

For the first nine months of 2021, total trade amounted to RM1,602.3bn, an increase of 23.2% yoy. Exports during the period totalled RM889.3bn, up by 24.9% and imports was valued at RM713.0bn, increasing by 21.1%. A trade surplus of RM176.3bn was recorded for the period, widened by 43.1% yoy.

Source: BIMB Securities Research - 29 Oct 2021