Malaysia’s total trade expanded to RM3.1 trillion in 2025, comprising RM1.6 trillion in exports and RM1.5 trillion in imports. Penang led the nation’s export performance, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Penang accounted for 38.1% of Malaysia’s total exports, followed by Johor (19.8%), Selangor (17.0%), Sarawak (6.4%) and Kuala Lumpur (3.7%).
Strong export growth was driven by electronic integrated circuits and other electrical and electronic (E&E) products, particularly in Penang, Selangor and Johor. Refined petroleum products contributed to exports in Johor, while palm oil was among the key contributors to exports in Sabah and Sarawak.
Source: https://de.wikipedia.org
Malaysia’s Trade Openness Index (TOI) rose to 151.0 in 2025 from 149.0 in the previous year, reflecting stronger integration between trade and the economy. Penang recorded the highest TOI at 575.1 in 2024, up from 540.6 in 2023, followed by Johor at 332.1 and Kedah at 234.2, the only three states to surpass the national level. The TOI measures the degree of dependence of international trade in goods on the economy, while the index can be used to analyse trade patterns and the importance of trade to the economy. TOI by state for 2025 is still being compiled, pending completion of state-level gross domestic product estimates.
On imports, Malaysia recorded a 6.0% increase to RM1.5 trillion in 2025, and Penang again led the increase in imports, rising by RM60.4 billion, followed by Kuala Lumpur (+RM24.8 billion), Selangor (+RM23.5 billion), Johor (+RM6.5 billion), Perak (+RM2.9 billion), Sabah (+RM582.8 million) and Kelantan (+RM112.7 million). Imports were supported by electronic integrated circuits, particularly in Penang and Kedah, and other E&E products and refined petroleum products contributed to imports in Selangor and Johor, with piezo-electric crystals and parts among the key import products in Penang.
This is well before Hormuz, so it will be interesting to see the effects of first half of 2026. In some sense, it could be higher because many would stockpile inventories with the continued tension between Iran and the U.S. – so exports/imports could remain high in the immediate term.
Reference:
DOSM: Malaysia’s total
trade hits RM3.1 tril in 2025, Penang tops exports, by
Bernama/theedgemalaysia.com, 16 Jun 2026
