M'SIAN EXPORTS TO GERMANY UP SLIGHTLY IN FIRST HALF 2008

By Manik Mehta

BERLIN, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysian exports to Germany during the first half of 2008 rose slightly. Imports from Germany, however, declined
sharply.

According to the report released by the Hamburg-based German Asia-Pacific
Business Council -- known by its German acronym, the OAV -- Malaysia's exports
to Germany amounted to ?2.177 billion (?1=RM4.96) from January to June 2008, up
0.4 percent from ?2.168 billion over the year-earlier period.

But Malaysia's imports from Germany fell sharply to ?1.955 billion during
the first half of the year, down 8.7 percent from ?2.142 billion in the
year-earlier period.

While Malaysia continues its reign as the uncontested largest exporter to
Germany in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), Singapore has
emerged as the largest importer of German products within the grouping.

Singapore's exports to Germany amounted to ?1.785 billion in the first half
of 2008, down 9.8 percent from ?1.979 billion in the year earlier
period.

But Singapore's imports from Germany surged further to ?2.712 billion, up
12 percent from ?2.420 billion in the year-earlier period.

Other Asean member states continued to maintain, more or less, a steady
balance-of-trade position with Germany.

Indonesia, which has been aggressively trying to promote trade and business
with Germany, ended up with exports of ?1.570 billion, a slight increase of 1.2
percent over ?1.551 billion during the year-earlier period.

Cambodia, which is seen here, unofficially, along with Laos and Vietnam, as
a second-tier Asean state because it is not among the core founding member
states, exported goods worth ?114.70 million, up 18.8 percent from ?96.51
million in the year-earlier period.

Cambodia's imports from Germany, however, showed a steep decline of 55.5
percent down to ?6.6 million from ?14.9 million in the year-earlier
period.

Exports from the Philippines showed a modest decline of 0.1 percent, down
to ?870.4 million from ?871.0 million, while Philippine imports from
Germany rose 4 percent to ?483.2 million, up from ?465 million.

Thailand, despite its ongoing political turmoil that is worrying many
German companies that have manufacturing or trading operations in the country,
was able to increase its exports by 9.7 percent to ?1.644 billion, up from
?1.499 billion in the corresponding half year of the previous year.

Thailand's imports from Germany during the first half of the current year
also increased by 16.8 percent to ?1.329 billion, up from ?1.137 billion in the
year-earlier period.

The German business community and the industry have also been satisfied
with the performance of Vietnam which was able to increase its exports to ?1.153
billion, up 12.5 percent from ?1.025 billion in the year earlier period.


Vietnam's imports from Germany, however, showed a sharp decline of 26.7
percent to ?498 million, down from ?679 million in the year-earlier
period.

The trade profile of the entire Asean region with Germany showed a total
export value of ?9.363 billion during the first half of 2008, up 1.3 percent
over ?9.247 billion in the year-earlier period.

Asean's imports from Germany for the same period amounted to ?7.900
billion, up 3.7 percent from ?7.617 billion euros in the year-earlier
period.

The OAV will be organising a five-day business visit to Myanmar in the
final week of October.

The OAV delegation has planned an agenda which will include a visit to a
hydropower plant in Mandalay, and hold talks with local authorities on business.

A visit to Yangon's Thilawa port is also envisaged. The OAV delegation
will also get a glimpse of Myanmar's new capital city Nay Pyi Daw.

But another major event being planned by the OAV is a three-day marathon
conference of the German industry in Singapore, which is tentatively scheduled
from May 13-15, 2010.

A large contingent of German industrialists, businesspeople, officials and
media representatives is expected.