MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS APRIL 2012

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MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS

TRADE PERFORMANCE FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2012 AND THE PERIOD OF
JANUARY- APRIL 2012#

Trade Expanded by 3.2% in April 2012 compared with April 2011

Malaysia’s total trade in April 2012 amounted to RM107.97 billion, an increase of 3.2%
from April 2011. Exports in April 2012 valued at RM57.74 billion was almost at the
same level of April 2011 of RM57.8 billion. Imports increased by 7.4% to RM50.23
billion.

Export Performance April 2012

Exports of manufactured goods valued at RM38.66 billion, decreased by 1.2% or

RM458.9 million. It constituted 67% of total exports in April 2012. Exports of mining
goods, rose by 15.8% or RM1.69 billion to RM12.35 billion while agricultural goods,
contracted 18.1% or RM1.38 billion to RM6.25 billion.

The slower growth in major economies and worries about the Europe debt crisis
impacted exports in April 2012, with lower exports of mainly electrical and electronic
(E&E) products (↓6.8% or RM1.35 billion), crude rubber (↓48.4% or RM710.8 million)
and palm oil (↓12.5% or RM604.4 million).

The weak global demand for semiconductor in major markets including Singapore and
Germany contributed to the lower exports of E&E products. Higher exports of E&E
products were however recorded to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) by 6.2%

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MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS APRIL 2012

due to the increase of hybrid integrated circuits and Thailand by 26.7%, due to parts
and accessories for computers.

Higher exports in April 2012 were recorded for both refined and crude petroleum,
rubber products, petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products, machinery,
appliances and parts, as well as transport equipment.

Major export products for the month were as follows:

 Electrical and electronic products (RM18.49 billion, 32%);

 Palm oil (RM4.24 billion, 7.3%);
 Refined petroleum products (RM4.19 billion, 7.3%);
 Liquefied natural gas (RM4.12 billion, 7.1%); and
 Chemicals and chemical products (RM3.84 billion, 6.7%).

Export Destinations

Exports to ASEAN was valued at RM15.79 billion, accounting for 27.3% of Malaysia’s
total exports in April 2012. Total exports to this region registered an increase of 8.9%
from April 2011, contributed by higher exports of refined petroleum, chemicals and
chemical products, as well as petroleum products. Exports to all ASEAN markets
recorded increases except Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

Exports to ASEAN was as follows:

 Singapore RM 7.97 billion, increased by 8.1%

 Thailand RM 3.35 billion, ↑10.9%
 Indonesia RM 2.26 billion, ↑33.4%
 Vietnam RM 979.7 million, ↓8.5%
 Philippines RM 829.1 million, ↓18.5%
 Brunei RM 169.1 million, ↑47.4%
 Myanmar RM 152.2 million, ↑22.6%
 Cambodia RM 67.5 million, ↓7.2%
 Lao PDR RM 6.8 million, ↑74%

Exports to the PRC registered a double digit growth of 16% to RM8.11 billion
compared to April 2011 driven by higher exports of crude petroleum, rubber products,

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MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS APRIL 2012

chemicals and chemical products, E&E products particularly hybrid integrated circuits
and storage units for computers, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petroleum products.
Exports to Japan declined by 3.4% to RM6.59 billion, mainly due to lower exports of
LNG.

Exports to the European Union (EU), following weak demand from most markets,
decreased by 14% to RM5.16 billion. Lower exports of electronic integrated circuits
and photosensitive semiconductor devices and crude rubber were the main
contributors to the decrease. Exports to all major markets in the EU declined except
for Netherlands and Finland which increased by RM63.5 million and RM94.2 million
respectively, due to exports of palm oil.

Exports to major EU countries were as follows:

 Netherlands RM 1.52 billion, increased by 4.4%

 Germany RM 1.26 billion, ↓ 24.6%
 United Kingdom RM 543.4 million, ↓ 11.8%
 France RM 405.8 million, ↓ 33.4%
 Italy RM 268.6 million, ↓ 2.4%
 Spain RM 192.9 million, ↓ 19.9%
 Belgium RM 187.0 million, ↓ 11.8%
 Finland RM 156.6 million, ↑ 151.0%
 Sweden RM 122.3 million, ↓ 18.5%
 Czech Republic RM 71.9 million, ↓ 53.4%

Exports to the United States of America (USA) was valued at RM4.81 billion, a
decline of 1.7% from RM4.9 billion registered a year ago, with lower exports of E&E
products, primarily integrated circuits. However, increases in exports were recorded
for rubber products (↑9.1%), optical & scientific equipment (↑4.7%), machinery,
appliances & parts (↑4.9%) as well as wood products (↑2.3%).

Other markets that registered increase in exports for April 2012 were Australia due
mainly to crude petroleum, Papua New Guinea, (crude petroleum) and India (palm
oil).

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MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS APRIL 2012

Imports in April 2012

Total imports in April 2012 increased by 7.4% to RM50.23 billion from April 2011. The
three main categories of imports by end use were:

 Intermediate goods valued at RM31.86 billion or 63.4% of total imports, a

decrease of 0.6% from April 2011;
 Capital goods (RM7.98 billion or 15.9% of total imports), ↑26.4%; and
 Consumption goods (RM3.53 billion or 7% of total imports), ↑7.4%.

Major import products were as follows:

 Electrical and electronic products, RM14.41 billion;

 Machinery, appliances and parts, RM4.8 billion; and
 Chemicals and chemical products, RM4.31 billion.

Major import sources were as follows:

Import value Share of total

(RM billion) imports (%)

 PRC 7.37 14.7

 Singapore 6.06 12.1
 Japan 5.47 10.9
 USA 4.12 8.2
 Thailand 2.87 5.7

Total imports from ASEAN amounted to RM13.18 billion or 26.2% of Malaysia’s total
imports in April 2012.

Trade Increased by 5% for January-April 2012

Total trade for January-April 2012 expanded by 5% to RM425.63 billion compared

with the corresponding period in 2011. Exports rose 3.3% to RM231.46 billion and
imports grew by 7.1% to RM194.17 billion.

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MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS APRIL 2012

Significant expansion in trade was recorded over the past four months of the year with
ASEAN, an increase of 8.5% or RM9.11 billion; the PRC, ↑12.6% or RM6.34 billion;
and Japan, ↑5.7% or RM2.68 billion.

Trade with ASEAN was valued at RM116.05 billion or 27.3% of Malaysia’s total trade
compared with 26.4% in January-April 2011. Exports increased by 9% to RM61.14
billion and imports grew by 8% to RM54.91 billion. Refined petroleum products, E&E
products, crude petroleum, petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products,
machinery, appliances and parts and processed food, contributed to the increase in
exports.

Trade with the PRC rose by 12.6% to RM56.8 billion. Exports increased by 1.5% to
RM28.84 billion and imports increased by 26.8% to RM27.96 billion. The increase in
exports to the PRC was contributed by higher exports of rubber products, E&E
products mainly hybrid integrated circuits and storage units for computers, chemicals
& chemical products, LNG as well as machinery, appliances and parts.

Malaysia’s trade with Japan grew by 5.7% to RM49.73 billion. Exports expanded by
12.5% to RM28.91 billion while imports declined by 2.5% to RM20.82 billion. Apart
from LNG, other products that contribute to the increase in exports were refined
petroleum products, textiles and clothings, machinery, appliances and parts mainly
machinery for working rubber and plastics as well as optical and scientific equipment.

Trade with the EU decreased by 1.7% to RM41.07 billion. Exports to the EU

contracted by 11.3% to RM21.05 billion while imports expanded by 11.1% to RM20.02
billion. Lower exports was seen for E&E products which decreased by 13.4%
particularly for photosensitive semiconductor devices and electronic integrated
circuits. Exports of semiconductor to Germany decreased by 50.7% or RM1.13 billion
compared to the corresponding period in 2011. Other products that registered lower
exports were crude rubber (↓32.3%) and refined petroleum products (↓75.7%).

Among the EU major markets, exports to Sweden increased by 2.4%, Finland

(↑2.1%), Poland (↑18.2%) and Hungary (↑32.9%). The increase to Sweden was due
mainly to exports of transport equipment, Finland, (palm oil), while for Poland and
Hungary (E&E products).

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MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS APRIL 2012

In the first four months of 2012, exports to the USA rose by 3.6% to RM19.31 billion
while imports contracted by 18% to RM15.44 billion with total trade declining by 7.3%
to RM34.75 billion. The increase in exports for the period was contributed by higher
exports of E&E products, by 2.8% to RM10.33 billion. This accounted for 53.5% share
of Malaysia’s total exports to the USA. Other products that recorded increases were
transport equipment mainly aircraft equipment & parts, refined petroleum products,
rubber gloves and wooden furniture.

Malaysia’s top ten export destinations were as follows:

Export value Share of total

(RM billion) exports (%)

 Singapore 30.37 13.1

 Japan 28.91 12.5
 PRC 28.84 12.5
 USA 19.31 8.3
 Thailand 13.40 5.8
 Australia 9.98 4.3
 Hong Kong SAR 9.31 4.0
 ROK 8.87 3.8
 Indonesia 8.64 3.7
 India 8.43 3.6

Composition of Exports

Manufactured goods, with a 66.1% share of total exports, registered a value of

RM153.05 billion for January-April 2012. Significant increases in exports were
recorded for rubber products by 17.1%, machinery, appliances and parts (↑12.3%),
chemicals and chemical products (↑3.8%) and optical and scientific equipment
(↑8.3%).

Exports of mining goods, rose by 23.4% or RM9.52 billion to RM50.26 billion

contributed by higher exports of LNG, which increased by 32.1%, refined petroleum
products (↑22.4%) and crude petroleum (↑13.5%).

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MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS APRIL 2012

Exports of agricultural goods, contracted 10.6% or RM3.12 billion to RM26.34 billion

due mainly to lower exports of crude rubber which decreased by 45.5% and palm oil
(↓6.6%).

Imports

Total imports during the first four months of 2012 increased by 7.1% to RM194.17
billion. The three main categories of imports by end use were:

 Intermediate goods valued at RM123.46 billion or 63.6% of total imports, a

decrease of 1.1% from the corresponding period in 2011;
 Capital goods (RM29.52 billion or 15.2% of total imports), ↑22.4%; and
 Consumption goods (RM14.09 billion or 7.3% of total imports), ↑16.8%.

Major import sources were as follows:

Import value Share of total

(RM billion) imports (%)

 PRC 27.96 14.4

 Singapore 25.62 13.2
 Japan 20.82 10.7
 USA 15.44 8.0
 Thailand 11.75 6.1

ASEAN accounted for 28.3% or RM54.91 billion of total imports for the period.

Note:
It should be noted that, conceptually, the export and import figures in the external trade statistics are different
from that in the goods account of the balance of payments compilation. The compilation of international
merchandise trade statistics is usually based on customs records, which essentially reflect the physical
movement of goods across borders, and follow international guidelines on concepts and definitions, which do
not fully conform to the principles of the System of National Accounts (SNA) and the Balance of Payments
Compilation. Goods are defined in the SNA as “physical objects for which a demand exists, over which
ownership rights can be established and whose ownership can be transferred from one institutional unit to
another by engaging in transactions on markets”.

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MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS APRIL 2012

This is a preliminary release, full details would be published in the “MONTHLY EXTERNAL TRADE
STATISTICS” report by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia, to be disseminated at 1201 hours, Wednesday,
th
6 June 2012.

+ This report can be accessed through the homepages of the Department of Statistics, Malaysia
(http://www.statistics.gov.my) under Latest Releases: Malaysian External Trade Statistics, Ministry of
International Trade and Industry (http://www.miti.gov.my) and Malaysia External Trade Development
Corporation (http://www.matrade.gov.my).


The April 2012 data is provisional and subject to revision in later issue.

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MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS APRIL 2012

TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF MALAYSIA’S EXTERNAL TRADE

Year/ Total Exports Total Imports Trade Balance Total Trade

Period (RM Million) (RM Million) (RM Million) (RM Million)

2011p
January 54,837.3 44,846.6 9,990.7 99,683.9
February 49,651.0 39,211.9 10,439.0 88,862.9
March 61,870.6 50,534.7 11,336.0 112,405.3
April 57,796.3 46,788.7 11,007.6 104,584.9
May 55,093.8 46,606.9 8,486.9 101,700.6
June 57,855.0 49,967.0 7,888.0 107,822.0
July 59,243.7 49,791.4 9,452.3 109,035.0
August 58,560.1 47,579.0 10,981.2 106,139.1
September 58,682.8 49,048.7 9,634.1 107,731.5
October 63,354.4 50,053.5 13,300.9 113,407.9
November 56,862.8 47,374.8 9,488.0 104,237.6
December 60,740.8 52,428.9 8,311.8 113,169.7

2011p 694,548.5 574,232.0 120,316.5 1,268,780.4

2012p
January 55,070.1 46,320.8 8,749.3 101,390.9
February 56,865.4 46,286.0 10,579.4 103,151.4
March 61,787.0 51,332.8 10,454.2 113,119.8
April 57,736.9 50,230.8 7,506.1 107,967.6

2011 (Jan-Apr)p 224,155.1 181,381.9 42,773.2 405,537.0

p
2012 (Jan-Apr) 231,459.3 194,170.4 37,289.0 425,629.7

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MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS APRIL 2012

TABLE 2: MAJOR EXPORT PRODUCTS

Apr Mar Apr

Products 2012p 2012p 2011p
RM Million RM Million RM Million
Total Exports 57,736.9 61,787.0 57,796.3
Electrical & Electronic Products 18,490.6 20,435.8 19,845.5
Palm Oil 4,237.1 4,466.8 4,841.5
Refined Petroleum Products 4,187.6 3,959.7 3,009.9
LNG 4,120.5 5,498.7 4,256.7
Chemicals & Chemical Products 3,843.6 4,278.7 3,641.9
Crude Petroleum 3,509.9 2,718.5 2,952.5
Machinery, Appliances & Parts 2,252.3 2,391.5 2,070.4
Optical & Scientific Equipment 1,924.9 1,940.5 1,834.8
Rubber Products 1,759.6 1,860.7 1,275.7
Manufactures Of Metal 1,742.6 1,795.2 1,770.5

TABLE 3: MAJOR EXPORT MARKETS

Apr Mar Apr

Markets 2012p 2012p 2011p
RM Million RM Million RM Million
Total Exports 57,736.9 61,787.0 57,796.3
PRC 8,107.8 7,678.5 6,988.5
Singapore 7,974.4 7,886.7 7,375.8
Japan 6,587.2 7,601.4 6,819.4
USA 4,813.6 5,217.4 4,896.1
Thailand 3,348.6 3,682.5 3,018.6
Australia 2,506.3 2,542.6 2,170.8
Hong Kong SAR 2,318.3 2,735.6 2,825.5
Indonesia 2,259.0 2,331.2 1,693.3
India 2,257.2 2,141.2 2,105.0
ROK 1,910.4 2,363.0 2,345.0

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MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS APRIL 2012

TABLE 4: MAJOR EXPORT PRODUCTS (JANUARY-APRIL)

Jan-Apr Jan-Apr
Products 2012p 2011p
RM Million RM Million
Total Exports 231,459.3 224,155.1
Electrical & Electronic Products 74,656.4 76,964.4
LNG 19,781.5 14,978.7
Palm Oil 18,028.8 19,308.1
Refined Petroleum Products 15,803.5 12,908.5
Chemicals & Chemical Products 15,732.9 15,153.7
Crude Petroleum 12,550.9 11,062.3
Machinery, Appliances & Parts 8,508.2 7,578.9
Optical & Scientific Equipment 6,837.6 6,312.6
Rubber Products 6,634.1 5,666.2
Manufactures Of Metal 6,455.1 6,780.7

TABLE 5: MAJOR EXPORT MARKETS (JANUARY-APRIL)

Jan-Apr Jan-Apr
Markets 2012p 2011p
RM Million RM Million
Total Exports 231,459.3 224,155.1
Singapore 30,369.3 28,721.0
Japan 28,910.5 25,694.2
PRC 28,842.3 28,415.7
USA 19,306.7 18,631.8
Thailand 13,400.7 11,833.4
Australia 9,982.8 7,844.2
Hong Kong SAR 9,307.6 10,431.5
ROK 8,868.0 8,704.6
Indonesia 8,635.8 6,592.2
India 8,434.1 8,612.1

Source: Department of Statistics, Malaysia

Compiled By: MATRADE

Notes:
p - provisional data

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MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS APRIL 2012

CHART 1: MALAYSIA’S MONTHLY EXTERNAL TRADE PERFORMANCE, 2006-2012

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