M'SIA RECORDS US$3.5 BLN TRADE SURPLUS IN AUGUST

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of
RM10.98 billion (US$3.5 billion) in August this year, boosted by higher exports
and imports during the period, Minister of International Trade and Industry
Mustapa Mohamed said on Friday.

He said during the month, exports increased by 10.9 per cent to RM58.56
billion while imports increased by 6.9 per cent to RM47.58 billion.
(US$1=RM3.17)

Total trade in August grew by 9.1 per cent compared to a year ago to
RM106.14 billion.

On a month-on-month basis, Mustapa said, exports and imports in August 2011
were lower by 1.2 per cent and 4.4 per cent respectively, while total trade
decreased by 2.7 per cent.

During January-August 2011, total trade increased by 7.9 per cent to
RM830.23 billion compared with the corresponding period in 2010.

Exports increased by 7.4 per cent to RM454.91 billion while imports expanded
by 8.5 per cent to RM375.33 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of RM79.58
billion during the same period.

The increase in exports in August 2011 from a year ago was contributed
mainly by higher exports of palm oil, chemicals and chemical products, liquefied
natural gas, rubber products, crude rubber, machinery, appliances and parts as
well as manufacture of metal.

China, Singapore, Japan, the US and Thailand were the top five export
destinations, accounting for 51.7 per cent of the country's total exports in
August 2011.

Mustapa said exports to Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) were
valued at RM14.37 billion, accounting for 24.5 per cent of Malaysia’s total
exports in August 2011.

Total exports to Asean rose by 10.7 per cent from a year ago, due mainly to
higher exports of refined petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products as
well as palm oil.

Total imports in August 2011 increased by 6.9 per cent to RM47.58 billion
from August 2010, due mainly to higher imports of intermediate and capital
goods.

-- BERNAMA