MALAYSIA'S TRADE PERFORMANCE TO BE POSITIVE YEAR END

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's trade performance is expected to see an upward trend end of this year in line with the positive indications of production from several multinational organisations.

International Trade and Industry Minister, Mustapa Mohamad said the ministry
had received reports from Japanese companies of an increase in their production
for the first six months of this year compared with last year.

"In the last two, three months there have been an increase in exports and in
June the rise was about five percent from May. In June, the figure was the
highest recorded for the year," he said.

"The rise in petroleum price also contributed to the increase in trade
performance," he told reporters after distributing packages of bubur lambuk
(porridge) to the ministry's staff here Tuesday.

A rise in the price of crude palm oil and the stable rubber prices also
contributed to the better performance.

Mustapa said electrical and electronic products are expected to be the major
contributors to Malaysia's exports end of the year.

Other leading exports this year include crude and processed petroleum,
natural gas, crude palm oil and rubber.

Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of RM9.12 billion (US$2.6 billion) in June
this year, making it the 140th consecutive month of trade surplus since 1997.

Total trade in June this year rose 7.0 percent to RM81.09 bilion (US$23.16
billion).

The country's exports rose 5.1 percent to RM45.01 billion (US$12.86
billion)in June compared with May which recorded RM42.92 billion (US$12.26
billion).
-- BERNAMA