By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 16: Pulau Pinang, Selangor, Johor, W.P. Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak together contributed 84.3 per cent of Malaysia’s total trade in 2025, which amounted to RM3.1 trillion, comprising exports of RM1.6 trillion and imports worth RM1.5 trillion, according to the latest external trade statistics released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
In its Malaysia External Trade Statistics by State 2026 (reference 2025) publication, DOSM reported that the country’s trade performance remained robust, with exports rising 6.4 per cent year-on-year, driven largely by key manufacturing and commodity sectors.
Chief Statistician Malaysia Dato’ Sri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said Malaysia’s trade openness index in 2025 stood at 151.0, compared to 149.0 in the previous year, reflecting the economy’s continued strong integration with global trade.
The index measures the degree of dependence of international trade in goods on the economy and serves as an indicator of trade patterns and economic reliance on external markets.
“The export performance was mainly supported by strong demand for electronic integrated circuits and other electrical and electronic products, particularly from Pulau Pinang, Selangor and Johor.
“Refined petroleum products also contributed significantly to Johor’s export performance, while palm oil remained a key export commodity for Sabah and Sarawak,” he said in a media statement today.
Pulau Pinang remained Malaysia’s top exporting state with a 38.1 per cent share, followed by Johor (19.8 per cent), Selangor (17.0 per cent), Sarawak (6.4 per cent) and W.P. Kuala Lumpur (3.7 per cent).
However, overall exports in 2025 also saw declines in several states, including Sarawak, Kedah, W.P. Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, W.P. Labuan and Kelantan.
On the import side, Malaysia recorded a 6.0 per cent increase to RM1.5 trillion, led by higher imports in Pulau Pinang, W.P. Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Perak, Sabah and Kelantan.
The increase was mainly driven by demand for electronic integrated circuits, electrical and electronic products, as well as refined petroleum products.
“Selangor continued to dominate imports with a 26.3 per cent share, followed by Pulau Pinang (24.4 per cent), Johor (22.3 per cent), W.P. Kuala Lumpur (8.9 per cent) and Kedah (4.9 per cent),” he explained.
DOSM said the publication also covers detailed trade statistics from 2020 to 2025, including commodity breakdowns, trading partners, and trader classifications from 2023 to 2025.
The data is generated through the Trade Enterprise Characteristics (TEC) module under the Statistics Big Data Analytics (STATSBDA) initiative, integrating international merchandise trade data with the Malaysia Statistical Business Register (MSBR), providing key insights to support evidence-based policymaking at both federal and state levels.— DayakDaily
