Malaysia's trade performance continued to soar as the country's trade recorded its highest value of RM1.73 trillion, an increase of 4.7 per cent for the period from January to July 2025 compared to RM1.65 trillion in the same period last year.

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) board member Datuk Mohammad Medan Abdullah said that of the total, the value of exports was RM900.47 billion and imports RM830.16 billion, with a trade surplus of RM70.31 billion.

He said the performance was in line with the country's trade growth trajectory in 2024 with trade volume reaching a new high of RM2.879 trillion, an increase of 9.2 per cent compared to 2023.

“The country’s exports last year exceeded RM1 trillion for the fourth consecutive year, increasing to RM1.508 trillion, exceeding by 87.2 per cent of the 12th Malaysia Plan export target.

“The value of imports also recorded an increase of 13.2 per cent to RM1.37 trillion, resulting in a trade surplus of RM136.88 billion for the 27th consecutive year since 1998,” he said at the Negeri Sembilan Export Day opening ceremony officiated by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.

Also present was MATRADE deputy chief executive officer Mansor Shah Wahid.

Mohammad Medan said that in terms of the trade performance, Negeri Sembilan recorded a higher trade volume of RM19.27 billion in 2024 compared to 2023, with an export value of RM1.03 billion.

"For the period from January to July 2025, Negeri Sembilan also recorded an export value of RM880 million, a significant increase of 10.2 per cent compared to the same period the previous year," he said.

He said MATRADE would continue to explore and expand the export market through its 48 trade offices worldwide as well as organise various exporter development programmes and promotions for the benefit of Malaysian companies.

“He explained that through export facilitation funds such as the Market Development Grant (MDG), Services Export Fund (SEF) and eTrade, 200 Negeri Sembilan companies benefitted from grants totalling RM1.5 million from 2024 to July 2025,” he said, adding that the companies successfully generated sales of RM672.18 million through the assistance.

In addition, he said 95 export promotion programmes and 1,835 business matches were organised by MATRADE from 2024 until July 2025 with 72 Negeri Sembilan exporters successfully generating sales of RM191.64 million.

As of July 31, 13,314 Malaysian companies were registered with MATRADE, with 315 from Negeri Sembilan, he said.

Meanwhile, MATRADE would be organising several international exhibitions including the 21st edition of the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) from Sept 17 to 20 at MITEC Kuala Lumpur.

He said 20 Negeri Sembilan companies participated in MIHAS last year, recording export sales worth RM4.29 million, while 15 companies participated in the MIHAS 2024 International Sourcing Programme, generating potential export sales of RM44.7 million.

MATRADE also took the MIHAS brand abroad for the first time, to Dubai and the United Arab Emirates in 2024, and this year, MIHAS is being organised in Shanghai, China from Nov 5 to 10 in conjunction with the China International Import Expo, targeting 200 Malaysian companies, he said.

Meanwhile, Aminuddin said Malaysia needs to look for trade opportunities with foreign countries and not focus on just one country, to further expand the products of local entrepreneurs abroad, including to Africa and South America.

“We hope that after this the number of exporters will continue to increase, especially for entrepreneurs in Negeri Sembilan. This is the best medium provided by MATRADE to expand and thus contribute to the country's exports,” he said.

Earlier, Mansor said today's programme is a strategic platform to develop more exporting entrepreneurs in addition to increasing awareness, knowledge and potential for the export market for entrepreneurs from micro, small and medium enterprises.

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