KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's trade surplus reached a record 132.77 billion ringgit (about 31.99 billion U.S. dollars) in the first five months of 2026, driven by strong demand for semiconductors used in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and higher energy exports, the country's trade promotion agency said on Monday.
The surplus was nearly three times larger than the 46.93 billion ringgit recorded in the same period a year earlier, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) said in a statement.
MATRADE Chief Executive Officer Abu Bakar Yusof said electrical and electronics exports surged 39.7 percent to 382.89 billion ringgit, led by a 61.6 percent increase in semiconductor shipments serving global AI infrastructure demand.
Exports of petroleum products and liquefied natural gas rose 22.9 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively, supported by elevated energy prices amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, he said.
Malaysia's exports of high-growth, high-value automotive components and electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles more than doubled, surging 115.8 percent from a year earlier.
MATRADE said it will continue to monitor the ongoing development in the Middle East to address the global supply disruptions encountered by industry players and exporters in Malaysia. (1 ringgit equals 0.24 U.S. dollars) ■
