19.03.202604:25:03UTC+00Malaysia Export Growth Below Expectations

Export growth in February moderated from January’s 19.6% surge but remained robust. The expansion was driven primarily by manufacturing, which grew 12.8%, led by strong performances in electrical and electronic products (28.5%) and optical and scientific equipment (42.9%). Mining exports also rose by 12.3%, supported mainly by metalliferous ores and metal scrap (443.7%) and crude petroleum (6.4%).

These gains were partly offset by a 16.4% contraction in agricultural exports, reflecting weaker demand for palm oil and palm-based products (-13.7%), other vegetable oils (-8.8%), and natural rubber (-47%).

By destination, exports increased sharply to the US (42.3%), with solid growth also recorded to China (13.2%), the EU (33.9%), Hong Kong (32.6%), and Taiwan (65.9%). Overall, exports for the first two months of 2026 were 15.2% higher than in the same period a year earlier.