FX.co ★ Malaysia August Export Growth Tops Forecasts

Malaysia’s exports jumped 45.5% year-on-year to MYR 191.1 billion in August 2026, quickening from July’s 38% growth and surpassing market expectations. The expansion was driven primarily by manufactured goods, which rose 50.4% and made up 89.5% of total exports, led in particular by electrical and electronic products, up 66.5%.

Exports of mining products also posted strong gains, rising 43.3% on the back of surging shipments of tin (180.6%), metalliferous ores and metal scrap (76.1%), and liquefied natural gas (51.8%). These increases were partly offset by a 19.3% drop in crude petroleum exports.

In contrast, agricultural exports fell sharply, plunging 21.4% amid weaker sales of palm oil and palm-based products (-25%) and sawlogs (-37.9%).

Exports to all ten major markets recorded growth, with the strongest increases to the US (130.4%), followed by Singapore (58.5%), China (19.9%), and the EU (20%). Over the January–August period, exports reached a total of MYR 1,356.2 billion, an increase of 31.2% compared with the same period a year earlier.