KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 ― Malaysia's September exports rose 14.8 per cent from a year earlier, slowing in pace for the second month in a row, despite strong demand for manufactured goods in China and Europe.
Export growth was below the 18 per cent rise forecast by a Reuters poll, and sharply down from 21.5 per cent in August and July's 30.9 per cent.
Malaysia has seen double-digit growth in exports over the past nine months, peaking at 32.5 per cent in May.
Shipments of manufactured goods, which accounted for more than four-fifths of Malaysia's total exports, were up 17.1 per cent from a year earlier in September, data from the International Trade and Industry Ministry showed.
Most of the manufactured goods were electrical and electronic products. Shipments of agricultural goods, however, declined 1.8 per cent from a year earlier, the data showed.
September's imports grew 15.2 per cent from a year earlier to RM69.7 billion, down from the 22.6 per cent growth posted in August.
The trade surplus in September narrowed to RM8.6 billion from August's RM9.9 billion.
Malaysia reports trade data in ringgit.
The currency has been one of Asia's best-performing ones this year, strengthening about 6 per cent this year.
Exports to China remained robust, rising 27.1 per cent from a year earlier, while those to the United States grew 10.7 per cent.
Shipments to the European Union rose 16.2 per cent, with exports of electrical and electronic products rising 28.5 per cent from a year earlier toRM 4.4 billion ringgit, the highest monthly export value ever recorded. ― Reuters
