Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysia’s total trade value reached a record high of 1.13 trillion MYR (284.6 billion USD) during the January–April period, marking a 15.3% increase compared to the same period last year.
This was driven by strong demand for high-growth, high-value (HGHV) products and broader market diversification amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in Middle East.
During this period, exports rose 19% to 153.55 billion USD, while imports increased 11.1% to 130.39 billion USD, resulting in a sharp 99.1% surge in trade surplus to 23.17 billion USD compared to the previous year.
The main driver behind the export boom was electrical and electronic products, which recorded growth of 32.1%, fueled by the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and global data center development.
The export expansion was anchored by robust demand for electrical and electronic (E&E) products, which grew 71 billion MYR or 32.1%.
This was fuelled by a global semiconductor boom due to artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, cloud computing and data centre expansion
Malaysia has cemented its position in the global AI value chain, with exports of AI-enabling products surging 42.9% to 319 billion MYR, now commanding over half (52.4%) of the nation's total exports.
Pharmaceutical and automotive products added further dimension to the HGHV narrative, posting double-digit growth of 21.9% and 10.3% respectively.
In April 2026 alone, the country posted impressive economic results, with both monthly export value and trade surplus reaching all-time highs, strengthening Malaysia’s position in the global technology supply chain.
According to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), while traditional markets such as the United States, China, and ASEAN continued to maintain growth momentum, the country is also rapidly expanding its trade footprint into emerging markets in Africa and Eastern Europe. This market diversification strategy not only enhances resilience against geopolitical fluctuations but also ensures Malaysia maintains its essential role in the global economy./.
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