Total trade witnessed a decline, dropping by 2.6% in November 2023 as compared to the RM238.2 billion recorded in the same month of 2022.

Chief Statistician Uzir Mahidin said exports also eased by RM7.6 billion (-5.9%) compared with the same month a year ago.

“The decrease in exports was attributed to the lower exports in most states, namely Penang (-RM5.4 billion), Selangor (-RM2.4 billion), Sarawak (-RM1.6 billion), Terengganu (-RM869.1 million), Melaka (-RM755.1 million), Labuan (-RM704.8 million), Pahang (-RM308 million), Negeri Sembilan (-RM164.2 million), Perlis (-RM29.9 million) and Kuala Lumpur (-RM9.9 million).

“However, exports increased in Johor by RM3 billion, Kedah (RM929.2 million), Perak (RM540.8 million), Sabah (RM472.3 million) and Kelantan (RM18.6 million),” he said.

He noted that Penang remained the top exporter with a 29% share, followed by Johor (22.6%), Selangor (16.9%), Sarawak (8.3%) and Kuala Lumpur (5.7%).

Nonetheless, looking at the performance of imports by state, Uzir said imports grew RM1.8 billion (+1.7%) as compared to the same month in 2022.

“The increase in imports was attributed to the higher imports in most states such as Kuala Lumpur (RM2.7 billion), Negeri Sembilan (RM1.4 billion), Pahang (RM1.1 billion), Sabah (RM514.3 million), Selangor (RM492.7 million), Johor (RM197.1 million), Melaka (RM114.4 million) and Terengganu (RM109.4 million).

“However, imports decreased in Penang by RM3.9 billion, Labuan (-RM280.2 million), Kedah (-RM78.8 million), Sarawak (-RM60.9 million), Kelantan (-RM43 million), Perak (-RM15.9 million) and Perlis (-RM6.2 million),” he said.

Selangor continued to dominate Malaysia’s imports with a share of 26.5%, followed by Johor (20.6%), Penang (20.4%), Kuala Lumpur (9.4%) and Kedah (5.6%), he added.