KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 – Malaysia’s exports grew 31.2 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM1.356 trillion in January-August 2026 versus RM1.033 trillion in the same period of 2025, reaching 40 countries, including the United States, France and Ireland, and surpassing the full-year export values recorded in 2025.
In a statement today, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) said exports to emerging markets recorded significant growth, with particularly noticeable increases in Namibia, which rose by 430.6 per cent, followed by Angola (+215.4 per cent), Tanzania (+50.2 per cent), Ethiopia (+51.2 per cent) and Bangladesh (+20.2 per cent).
It said among the bloc of economies, exports to BRICS member countries expanded by 19.1 per cent to RM251.47 billion, with double-digit growth recorded across key markets including China (+23.7 per cent), India (+23.4 per cent), Brazil (+27.5 per cent), and South Africa (+43.4 per cent).
“Notably, exports to Ethiopia had already surpassed the full-year export value recorded in 2025, highlighting growing market penetration and the emerging potential of non-traditional markets to support Malaysia’s export diversification efforts,” it added.
MATRADE said export growth is also seen across diversified industries and products, with optical and scientific equipment rising 37.6 per cent, followed by petroleum products (+26.6 per cent), manufactures of metal (+21.6 per cent), machinery, appliances and parts (+18.4 per cent), and liquefied natural gas (LNG) (+17.2 per cent), beyond the electrical and electronic (E&E) sector.
It said the palm oil-based manufactured products also registered strong growth, driven particularly by oleochemicals, which increased by 12.6 per cent, with Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) making a significant contribution to the expansion of this export segment.
MATRADE said the performance underscores SMEs’ important role in strengthening Malaysia’s value-added and downstream-based exports and expanding the export base beyond E&E products.
Chief executive officer Datuk Abu Bakar Yusof said Malaysia’s historic export numbers demonstrate that the strategic shift to market and product diversification over the past few years has started to bear fruit amid the uncertainties in the global supply chain that have opened up demand opportunities for Malaysia’s exports.
“This new landscape also underscores the structural agility and resilience of Malaysia’s exporters, including the micro, small and medium enterprises, in cushioning and mitigating the impact of the global uncertainties.
“MATRADE continues to deepen market access initiatives through exporters’ integrated and customised capacity building programmes by enhancing the whole-of-government approach and strategic partnership with the private stakeholders,” he added.
MATRADE said it will also continue intensifying its export promotion activities locally and globally to showcase the capabilities of Malaysian firms, including via the Malaysia International Halal Showcase, the world’s largest halal trade show, to be held from Sept 23-26, 2026.
