The Department of Statistics Malaysia announced on 28 January 2023 that the nation’s total trade in December reached RM236 billion, an increase of 8.6 percent compared with the same month a year earlier. Exports grew 6.0 percent to RM131.9 billion, while imports rose 12.0 percent to RM104.1 billion, leaving a trade surplus of RM27.8 billion for the month.
State‑Level Export Performance
Eleven of Malaysia’s fifteen states and federal territories recorded higher exports in December. Johor led the advance, adding RM4.3 billion to the national export total, driven by refined petroleum and integrated circuits.
Sarawak followed with a contribution of RM2.2 billion, buoyed by stronger liquefied natural gas and timber shipments. Selangor, Labuan, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Kedah each posted increases ranging from RM180 million to RM1.4 billion. Melaka, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur and Perlis together contributed roughly RM270 million.
Four states experienced export contractions: Sabah, Pahang, Terengganu and Penang. Despite its decline, Penang still holds the largest share of Malaysia’s overall export pie, highlighting that growth was not uniform across the country.
Full‑Year 2022 Context
The December surge pushed Malaysia’s total trade for the full year 2022 to RM2.8 trillion, the highest annual figure on record and the first time the country surpassed the RM2 trillion threshold in a single calendar year. Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin described this as a new milestone.
Drivers of Trade Movements
On the export side, electrical and electronic products, petroleum products, palm oil and chemicals all contributed to the rise. Import growth was fuelled by stronger demand for intermediate and capital goods, indicating that factories were acquiring machinery and components to sustain production rather than merely stocking finished consumer goods.
Import growth of 12.0 percent outpaced export growth of 6.0 percent, narrowing the surplus from a year earlier but still leaving Malaysia in the black by RM27.8 billion for December.
Implications and Outlook
The state‑level breakdown shows which parts of the economy are expanding and which are lagging. Johor’s RM4.3 billion jump reflects vigorous activity in refining and electronics assembly along the southern industrial corridor. Sarawak’s LNG and timber deliveries underscore the continued strength of resource‑driven states. Penang’s contraction, despite its sizable export base, signals that even major electronics hubs can be vulnerable to shifts in global demand.
Johor and Sarawak powered the December export gain; without their contributions the national picture would look markedly weaker. The Department of Statistics Malaysia’s data makes this clear.
The key question for 2023 is whether these two states can maintain their momentum, or whether the drag from Penang and other contracting states will pull the overall trade figure downward.
