Malaysia posts record-high trade in 2025 as December exports surge

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia saw a record-high trade performance in 2025 with a higher-than-expected surge in outbound shipments in December boosting the export-reliant economy, government data showed on Tuesday.

Total trade for 2025 reached a record value of 3.1 trillion ringgit ($765.4 billion), a 6.3% increase from a year ago, the trade ministry said in a statement.

Exports in 2025 rose 6.5% year-on-year, while imports grew 6.2% annually, resulting in a trade surplus of 151.8 billion ringgit over the year, the ministry said.

“This performance was achieved despite rising global uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions, supply chain realignments and rising risks of protectionism,” the ministry said.

Outbound shipments surged 10.4% in December from a year earlier, the data showed, well above the 2.5% increase forecast by economists in a Reuters poll.

Imports in December grew 12% from a year ago, beating an analyst forecast of 8.5%.

Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of 19.3 billion ringgit ($4.77 billion) in December, above the poll forecast of 12.8 billion ringgit.

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Trade with China, Malaysia’s largest single trading partner, recorded an 11.9% expansion in 2025 compared to a year earlier, the trade ministry said.

Malaysian exports to the United States remained resilient, with outbound shipments expanding by 17.2% year-on-year and overall trade between the countries growing by an annual 13%.

The Malaysian government expects trade to increase by 3.3% in 2026, supported by a 2.8% growth in exports and a 3.9% increase in imports.

Economic growth is projected at between 4% and 4.5% this year.

The economy likely expanded 4.9% in 2025, beating the government and central bank’s projections of between 4% and 4.8%.