Malaysia’s international trade experienced tremendous growth throughout the last 4 decades with total trade from merely RM 9.45 billion in 1970 to RM 1.4 trillion in 2014. The trade it plays a large role in Malaysian economy.
Malaysia has managed to maintain a positive trade balance, exporting more goods than it imports except in 1982, 1991 and 1994 – 1997.
In 2014, Malaysia post a trade balance of RM 83.11 billion. The highest was recorded prior to global recession in 2008 at RM143.21 billion.
The table below shows statistical figures on total export, import and trade balance since 1970.
| Year | Total Exports (RM billion) | Total Imports (RM billion) | Trade Balance (RM billion) | Total Trade (RM billion) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5.16 | 4.29 | 0.87 | 9.45 |
| 1971 | 5.02 | 4.42 | 0.60 | 9.43 |
| 1972 | 4.85 | 4.54 | 0.31 | 9.40 |
| 1973 | 7.37 | 5.93 | 1.44 | 13.31 |
| 1974 | 10.19 | 9.89 | 0.30 | 20.09 |
| 1975 | 9.23 | 8.53 | 0.70 | 17.76 |
| 1976 | 13.44 | 9.71 | 3.73 | 23.16 |
| 1977 | 14.96 | 11.16 | 3.79 | 26.12 |
| 1978 | 17.07 | 13.65 | 3.43 | 30.72 |
| 1979 | 24.22 | 17.16 | 7.06 | 41.38 |
| 1980 | 28.17 | 23.45 | 4.72 | 51.62 |
| 1981 | 27.11 | 26.60 | 0.51 | 53.71 |
| 1982 | 28.11 | 29.02 | -0.91 | 57.13 |
| 1983 | 32.77 | 30.80 | 1.98 | 63.57 |
| 1984 | 38.65 | 32.93 | 5.72 | 71.57 |
| 1985 | 38.02 | 30.44 | 7.58 | 68.45 |
| 1986 | 35.72 | 27.92 | 7.80 | 63.64 |
| 1987 | 45.22 | 31.93 | 13.29 | 77.16 |
| 1988 | 55.26 | 43.29 | 11.97 | 98.55 |
| 1989 | 67.82 | 60.86 | 6.97 | 128.68 |
| 1990 | 79.65 | 79.12 | 0.53 | 158.76 |
| 1991 | 94.50 | 100.83 | -6.33 | 195.33 |
| 1992 | 103.66 | 101.44 | 2.22 | 205.10 |
| 1993 | 121.24 | 117.40 | 3.83 | 238.64 |
| 1994 | 153.92 | 155.92 | -2.00 | 309.84 |
| 1995 | 184.99 | 194.34 | -9.36 | 379.33 |
| 1996 | 197.03 | 197.28 | -0.25 | 394.31 |
| 1997 | 220.89 | 220.94 | -0.05 | 441.83 |
| 1998 | 286.56 | 228.12 | 58.44 | 514.69 |
| 1999 | 321.56 | 248.48 | 73.08 | 570.04 |
| 2000 | 373.27 | 311.46 | 61.81 | 684.73 |
| 2001 | 334.28 | 280.23 | 54.05 | 614.51 |
| 2002 | 357.43 | 303.09 | 54.34 | 660.52 |
| 2003 | 397.88 | 316.54 | 81.35 | 714.42 |
| 2004 | 481.25 | 399.63 | 81.62 | 880.89 |
| 2005 | 536.23 | 432.87 | 103.36 | 969.10 |
| 2006 | 589.24 | 478.15 | 111.09 | 1,067.39 |
| 2007 | 604.30 | 502.04 | 102.26 | 1,106.34 |
| 2008 | 663.01 | 519.80 | 143.21 | 1,182.82 |
| 2009 | 552.52 | 434.67 | 117.85 | 987.19 |
| 2010 | 638.82 | 528.83 | 109.99 | 1,167.65 |
| 2011 | 697.86 | 573.63 | 124.24 | 1,271.49 |
| 2012 | 702.64 | 606.68 | 95.96 | 1,309.32 |
| 2013 | 719.99 | 648.69 | 71.30 | 1,368.69 |
| 2014 | 766.13 | 683.02 | 83.11 | 1,449.14 |
Last update : 3rd March 2015