KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 — Malaysia total trade for 2015 rose 1.2 per cent to RM1.466 trillion last year from RM1.448 trillion the previous year, Second Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said today.

He added the country registered a trade surplus of RM94.29 billion last year, a 14.3 per cent growth from 2014.

“This marked the 18th consecutive year that Malaysia has recorded a trade surplus and all these achieved despite the global economic turbulence,” he told during the ‘Malaysia Trade Performance 2015’ at the Martrade building.

Despite a negative figure recorded in exports during the first of 2015, Ong said the country managed to bounce back with a 6.8 per cent growth in the second half of the year.

This resulted in an overall growth of 1.9 per cent, leading to a total RM779.95 billion in exports.

In terms of import, Ong noted a marginal growth of 0.4 per cent, or RM2.71 billion, for the year.

Ong attributed the increase in overall trade to China, citing a RM230.89 billion or 11.1 per cent increase in trade deals.

He said the manufactured goods segment had spearheaded export performance, seeing an increase of 6.5 per cent to RM625.46 billion. The segment takes up 80.2 per cent share in the country’s total exports.

The electrical and electronic segment also grew steadily at 8.5 per cent to RM21.78 billion, accounting for 35.6 per cent of Malaysia’s total exports for the year.

The Asean market, meanwhile, remained large, holding a 27.4 per cent share of Malaysia’s total trade that was valued at RM401.42 billion. This was an increase of 3.2 per cent from 2014.

Commenting on the weak ringgit, Ong briefly said it will make Malaysian exports more competitive but it can also reflect positively in trade.

The trade minister also said he was optimistic about a positive outcome after 12 member countries, including Malaysia, signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement in New Zealand yesterday.

“Trade with FTA (free trade agreement) partner countries stood at RM927.66 billion and this translates to 63.1 per cent in contribution of Malaysia’s total exports in 2015.

“Therefore, I’m optimistic that the TPP will reflect positively when the trade deal takes effect,” he said.