Malaysia’s exports climbed 8.3% year-on-year to a three-month high of MYR 148.8 billion in March 2026, easing from February’s downwardly revised 10.7% rise, as Middle East tensions weighed on global trade flows. Growth was driven by manufacturing, which expanded 9.6%, particularly in electrical and electronic products (15.0%) and petroleum products (23.7%). Meanwhile, mining exports fell 0.4%, weighed down by liquefied natural gas (-17.5%). However, this decline was partially offset by increases in crude petroleum (0.8%) and metalliferous ores and metal scrap (13.8%). At the same time, agricultural exports dropped 7.8%, reflecting lower sales of palm oil and palm-based products (-6.1%) and natural rubber (-45.9%). By destination, exports increased sharply to the U.S. (18.3%), while shipments to China rose 7.0%, Hong Kong increased 19.2%, and Taiwan surged 45.0%. For the first quarter of 2026, exports rose 12.7% from the same period last year to USD 426.5 billion.