On 1 June 2021, Malaysia’s Department of Statistics announced that the country’s April trade activity set new highs. Total exports climbed to RM 105.6 billion, while imports rose to RM 85.1 billion, leaving a trade surplus of RM 20.5 billion. The overall value of trade for the month reached RM 190.8 billion, a 43.2 % jump from April 2020.
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin described the surge as a “positive sign” for the economy as it emerges from the COVID‑19 downturn. Export growth was especially pronounced, expanding 63 % year‑on‑year—far above the 31.1 % increase recorded in March. The bulk of the export rise came from domestic shipments, which totalled RM 85 billion and grew 84 % over the same period. Re‑exports also contributed, reaching RM 20.6 billion, a rise of 11 %.
Key export destinations included the United States, Singapore, the European Union, China and India. The United States alone saw an additional RM 6.8 billion in Malaysian goods. Sector‑wise, electrical and electronic products led the expansion, adding RM 11.2 billion, while palm‑oil and related agricultural products grew by RM 2.5 billion. Other strong performers were rubber products, petroleum items and machinery, equipment and parts.
Imports increased by 24.4 % to RM 85.1 billion. The main sources were China, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand, with China accounting for an extra RM 6 billion of imports. Intermediate goods made up 54.6 % of total imports and surged 64.4 % (RM 18.2 billion), suggesting heightened activity in downstream manufacturing. Conversely, imports of capital goods fell 38.2 % compared with April 2020, a dip that could reflect reduced investment in certain sectors.
The resulting RM 20.5 billion surplus underscores that export growth outpaced import demand. International bodies such as the World Trade Organization note that a sustained surplus can indicate economic strength and competitiveness. The International Monetary Fund highlighted the importance of the expanding electrical‑electronics, rubber, petroleum and machinery segments for Malaysia’s broader recovery, while the Asian Development Bank linked the trade gains to overall regional economic health.
Analysts expect the strong April figures to be closely monitored by policymakers, as trade performance remains a core gauge of Malaysia’s post‑pandemic trajectory. With the current momentum, officials anticipate that the country will continue to build on this rebound in the months ahead.
