KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s export and import unit value indices continued to record positive on-month growth in May at 0.7% and 0.9%, respectively, despite economic uncertainties, said the Statistics Department.
In a statement today, Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the growth in the export unit value index was driven by increases in the index for animal and vegetable oils and fats (3.1%), mineral fuels (1.3%), and machinery and transport equipment (0.2%).
He said the export volume index recorded a decline of 13.2% in the same month.
“The decline was reflected by decreases in the index for mineral fuels (-20.9%), machinery and transport equipment (-15.4%), and miscellaneous manufactured articles (-13.1%).”
The seasonally adjusted export volume index decreased 12.8% to 142.6 points from 163.6, he said.
Both the export unit value and volume indices rose 10.7% and 33.1%, respectively, on a yearly basis.
On the import unit value index, Uzir said the increment in May was contributed by growth in the index for mineral fuels (7.1%), miscellaneous transactions and commodities (3.0%), and manufactured goods (0.9%).
The import volume index, however, decreased 8.6% from April, attributed to the deterioration in the index for mineral fuels (-34.4%), manufactured goods (-4.4%), and machinery and transport equipment (-2.3%).
The seasonally adjusted import volume index in May declined 10.3% to 149.0 points from 166.1.
On an annual basis, both the import unit value and volume indices expanded 3.8% and 44.8%, respectively. – Bernama, July 2, 2021
