Business

Penang maintains top export spot as Malaysia records RM263.9 billion trade in November 2025

Malaysia’s total trade rises, driven by strong export performance in Penang and Johor, while imports see broad-based growth led by Penang and Selangor

Updated 5 months ago · Published on 26 Dec 2025 12:50PM

Penang maintains top export spot as Malaysia records RM263.9 billion trade in November 2025
The country’s total trade for the month reached RM263.9 billion, with exports valued at RM135 billion and imports at RM128.9 billion - December 26, 2025

PENANG remained Malaysia’s leading export contributor in November 2025, accounting for 39.2 per cent of total exports, followed by Johor at 21.1 per cent, Selangor 15.2 per cent, Sarawak 6.7 per cent, and Kuala Lumpur 3.3 per cent.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the country’s total trade for the month reached RM263.9 billion, with exports valued at RM135 billion and imports at RM128.9 billion.

Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin reported that Malaysia’s exports in November 2025 rose by seven per cent year-on-year, equivalent to RM8.9 billion.

“The increase was driven by higher exports from Penang (RM6.9 billion), Johor (RM5.2 billion), Perak (RM699.1 million), Sabah (RM36.3 million) and Negeri Sembilan (RM17.7 million),” he said.

However, Dr Mohd Uzir noted declines in several states, with Selangor falling by RM1.4 billion, Sarawak by RM969.8 million, Pahang by RM658.8 million, Labuan by RM445.4 million, Kuala Lumpur by RM348 million, Kedah by RM272.5 million, Kelantan by RM266.2 million, Terengganu by RM66.9 million, Perlis by RM23.9 million, and Melaka by RM4.5 million.

On the import side, Malaysia recorded a 15.8 per cent year-on-year increase, or RM17.6 billion, in November 2025. Dr Mohd Uzir attributed the growth to higher imports in Penang (RM9.4 billion), Selangor (RM5 billion), Kuala Lumpur (RM3.2 billion), Johor (RM707.8 million), Perak (RM681.3 million), Melaka (RM398.3 million) and Sabah (RM165.2 million).

Conversely, imports declined in Negeri Sembilan by RM368.3 million, Labuan by RM266.8 million, Sarawak by RM193.7 million, Pahang by RM140.7 million, Kelantan by RM91.3 million, Perlis by RM57.4 million, Kedah by RM48.6 million, and Terengganu by RM27.3 million.

“Penang dominated Malaysia’s import sector with a contribution of 28.6 per cent, followed by Selangor at 26.2 per cent, Johor 18.3 per cent, Kuala Lumpur 9.6 per cent, and Kedah 4.9 per cent,”

Dr Mohd Uzir added, highlighting the continued importance of these states as trade hubs in the national economy. - December 26, 2025

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