Malaysia July 2026 Trade Up 37.3% to RM364.7 Bln

What happened

Malaysia's total trade rose 37.3% year-on-year to RM364.7 billion in July 2026, from RM265.7 billion a year earlier. The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) released the data on Aug 20.

Exports and imports both grew, supporting the overall expansion.

Why it matters

The figures point to sustained economic momentum in mid-2026. Higher trade volumes usually signal stronger domestic demand and external competitiveness.

This may lift business confidence and influence Bank Negara Malaysia's monetary policy.

Impact on Malaysia

Increased trade activity could support jobs in export-oriented sectors like electronics, palm oil, and manufacturing. Smaller suppliers may see higher orders.

But sustained growth might add to inflationary pressures on imported goods.

Sector performance

DOSM said the growth was broad-based, with both exports and imports contributing. The summary did not include sector-specific breakdowns.

Analysts will look for detailed commodity and trading partner data in the full DOSM release.

Outlook

Economists expect trade to remain resilient if global demand holds. Government investment promotion efforts may further support exports.

Risks include slowdowns in major trading partners and supply chain disruptions.

Key takeaways

• Total trade rose 37.3% year-on-year to RM364.7 billion in July 2026.
• Growth was driven by both exports and imports.
• Data was released by DOSM on Aug 20, 2026.