Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) expects Malaysia’s total trade value to potentially reach RM3 trillion this year, maintaining the strong performance achieved in 2025.
Malaysia recorded RM3.06 trillion in total trade in 2025, marking the first time the country crossed this milestone.
The projection is supported by expected export growth of 3% to 5%, despite global economic challenges.
Key factors influencing the outlook:
- Global geopolitical tensions affecting trade routes
- Rising logistics and shipping costs worldwide
- Ongoing supply chain disruptions
- Slower but stable global demand
MATRADE acknowledges that earlier forecasts were higher, but revised expectations reflect current global conditions.
Malaysia is actively strengthening its export resilience through:
- Diversification of export markets (reducing dependency on single regions)
- Expansion of digital trade platforms (Madani Digital Trade platform)
- Support for SMEs and MSMEs entering global markets
- Collaboration with financial institutions and state agencies
Currently, around 5,000 MSMEs are using MATRADE’s digital platform to connect with overseas buyers.
Business Impact:
- Malaysian exporters gain wider access to international markets
- SMEs benefit from digital trade transformation
- Companies must adapt to higher logistics and compliance costs
- Increased need for export documentation knowledge (FTA utilisation)
Economic Impact:
- Supports Malaysia’s long-term GDP growth stability
- Strengthens export-driven economy structure
- Reduces risk from dependency on limited trade partners
- Improves resilience against global trade disruptions
Risk Factors:
- Shipping cost volatility due to geopolitical conflict
- Supply chain delays in key global routes
- Limited MSME readiness for complex export compliance