KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 — Malaysia’s export growth rose to 2.7 per cent in December from a year earlier, as its trade surplus shrank to RM9.2 billion, government data showed today, as the Southeast Asian economy was hit by falling world prices for its its oil, gas and commodity exports.

Imports rose 4.2 per cent from a year ago.

The export growth was more than expected. The median forecast from a Reuters poll of analysts was for exports to grow 1.0 per cent, and for a trade surplus of RM9 billion.

November’s trade surplus came in at RM11.13 billion, its highest since November 2011, as imports were flat. — Reuters