MALAYSIA'S EXPORTS RISE 9.2 PCT IN DECMBER 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's exports for December 2009
expanded by 9.2 per cent to RM54.67 billion (US$1=RM3.4) from the preceding
month.

"This makes them the highest monthly exports for the year. Overall exports
in 2009, however, dropped 16.6 per cent to RM553.3 billion," the Ministry of
International Trade and Industry (MITI) said in a statement here Friday.

It said total trade for 2009 was RM988.24 billion, a decrease of 16.6 per
cent from 2008. Imports in 2009 fell by 16.6 per cent to RM434.94 billion.

Imports for December, however, saw an increase of 3.4 per cent to RM42.58
billion and as a result, a trade surplus of RM12.1 billion was recorded in
December 2009, making it the 146th consecutive trade surplus since November
1997.

It said compared to December 2008, exports in December 2009 widened by 3.3
per cent while imports increased by 23.3 per cent.

MITI said compared with November 2009, the increase in exports in December
2009 was largely contributed by higher exports of manufactured goods (+6.4 per
cent), particularly electrical and electronic machinery, appliance and parts as
well as chemicals and chemical products.

"There were also higher exports of mining goods (+26.5 per cent), namely,
liquefied natural gas, crude petroleum and refined petroleum products," it said.

Singapore, China, US, Japan and Thailand were the top five export
destinations, accounting for 52.7 per cent of Malaysia's total exports.

Exports to Asean increased by 9.1 per cent to RM14.22 billion in December
and accounted for 26 per cent of Malaysia's total exports.

"The increase was mainly due to higher exports of crude petroleum,
electrical and electronic products and refined petroluem products.

"Year-on-year, exports to Asean increased by 33.5 per cent," it said.

Total imports in December 2009 increased by 23.3 per cent to RM42.58 billion
from December 2008 mainly due to higher imports of intermediate and capital
goods.

Imports of intermediate goods were valued at RM28.27 billion, or 66.5 per
cent, of total imports, capital goods RM6.71 billion (15.8 per cent) and
consumption goods RM3.1 billion (7.3 per cent).

The top ten import sources were China, Japan, Singapore, US, Thailand,
Indonesia, South Korea, Germany and Hong Kong.

Total imports from Asean amounted to RM11.13 billion or 26.1 per cent of
Malaysia's total imports.

-- BERNAMA