2019.07.0401:58:00UTC+00Malaysia Exports Rise More-Than-Expected

Malaysia's exports rose at a faster-than-expected rate in May, while imports grew less-than-forecast, data from the Department of Statistics revealed Thursday. Exports rose 2.5 percent year-on-year to MYR 84.1 billion in May. Economists had expected a 2.3 percent rise.

Imports gained 1.4 percent to MYR 75.1 billion. Economists had forecast an annual increase of 3.1 percent.

The trade surplus reached MYR 9.1 billion in May, which was bigger than economists' expectation of MYR 8.45 billion.

On a monthly basis, exports fell by seasonally adjusted 1.2 percent in May and imports declined 4.0 percent.