KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's total trade amounted to RM225.1 billion in December 2023, with exports and imports totalling RM118.5 billion and RM106.7 billion respectively.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin said exports dropped by RM13.2 billion from the same month in 2022 due to the lower exports in most states.
Johor's exports were down by RM5 billion, Penang (down RM3.3 billion), Selangor (down RM3.0 billion) and Labuan (down RM2.1 billion).
Lower exports were also recorded in Sarawak which dropped RM904.8 million, Perak (RM569.0 million), Melaka (RM529.7 million), Sabah (RM186.8 million), Negri Sembilan (RM125.3 million), Kelantan (RM74.4 million) and Perlis (RM16.6 million).
However, exports increased in Kedah by RM850.4 million, Terengganu (RM673.6 million), Kuala Lumpur (RM539.8 million) and Pahang (RM58.0 million).
?Penang remained as the top exporter with 31.5 per cent share, followed by Selangor (17.4 per cent), Johor (17.2 per cent), Sarawak (9.4 per cent) and Kuala Lumpur (5.6 per cent)," Uzir said in a statement.
Meanwhile imports in December 2023 increased RM3.0 billion (up 2.9 per cent) from the same month in 2022.
This was attributed by the higher imports in most states such as Johor which recorded an increase of RM1.6 billion, Kuala Lumpur (RM1.5 billion), Penang (RM926.0 million) and Negri Sembilan (RM343.0 million).
Pahang posted an increase of RM308.9 million, Terengganu (RM183.3 million), Kelantan (RM139.8 million) and Labuan (RM16.0 million).
However, imports decreased in Sarawak by RM588.1 million, Melaka (RM462.1 million), Selangor (RM292.1 million), Perak (RM268.5 million), Sabah (RM184.3 million), Kedah (RM113.3 million) and Perlis (RM21.9 million).
Selangor continued to dominate Malaysia's imports with a share of 26.2 per cent, followed by Penang (22.0 per cent) Johor (21.8 per cent), Kuala Lumpur (7.8 per cent) and Kedah (5.5 per cent).