Malaysia Trade Intensity by Sector Dashboard

Malaysia Trade Intelligence

Compare Malaysia’s major trade sectors by total trade activity, including exports, imports, trade balance, and sector share using official Malaysia open data.

Latest Malaysia Trade Intensity by Sector: March 2026

The figures below rank sectors by total trade activity, calculated from exports plus imports.

Total Trade Across Listed Sectors RM 272,951,390,593 (RM 272.95 billion)

Most Active Trade Sector Machinery and Transport Equipment

Top Sector Share of Total Trade 54.59%

Malaysia Sectors Ranked by Trade Intensity

The cards below show which sectors have the highest combined export and import activity.

Rank 1

Machinery and Transport Equipment

Total Trade RM 148,993,963,240 (RM 148.99 billion)

Share of Total Trade 54.59%

Exports RM 80,492,049,894 (RM 80.49 billion)

Imports RM 68,501,913,346 (RM 68.50 billion)

Surplus RM 11,990,136,548 (RM 11.99 billion)

Rank 2

Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials

Total Trade RM 27,057,248,232 (RM 27.06 billion)

Share of Total Trade 9.91%

Exports RM 16,011,233,441 (RM 16.01 billion)

Imports RM 11,046,014,791 (RM 11.05 billion)

Surplus RM 4,965,218,650 (RM 4.97 billion)

Rank 3

Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles

Total Trade RM 26,247,350,680 (RM 26.25 billion)

Share of Total Trade 9.62%

Exports RM 17,817,880,070 (RM 17.82 billion)

Imports RM 8,429,470,610 (RM 8.43 billion)

Surplus RM 9,388,409,460 (RM 9.39 billion)

Rank 4

Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Material

Total Trade RM 21,404,113,814 (RM 21.40 billion)

Share of Total Trade 7.84%

Exports RM 11,302,933,756 (RM 11.30 billion)

Imports RM 10,101,180,058 (RM 10.10 billion)

Surplus RM 1,201,753,698 (RM 1.20 billion)

Rank 5

Chemicals and Related Products

Total Trade RM 17,718,725,426 (RM 17.72 billion)

Share of Total Trade 6.49%

Exports RM 8,056,602,553 (RM 8.06 billion)

Imports RM 9,662,122,873 (RM 9.66 billion)

Deficit RM -1,605,520,320 (RM -1.61 billion)

Rank 6

Food and Live Animals

Total Trade RM 10,650,233,413 (RM 10.65 billion)

Share of Total Trade 3.90%

Exports RM 4,008,837,738 (RM 4.01 billion)

Imports RM 6,641,395,675 (RM 6.64 billion)

Deficit RM -2,632,557,937 (RM -2.63 billion)

Rank 7

Crude Materials, Inedible, Except Fuels

Total Trade RM 8,224,217,527 (RM 8.22 billion)

Share of Total Trade 3.01%

Exports RM 3,349,654,797 (RM 3.35 billion)

Imports RM 4,874,562,730 (RM 4.87 billion)

Deficit RM -1,524,907,933 (RM -1.52 billion)

Rank 8

Animal and Vegetable Oils, Fats and Waxes

Total Trade RM 7,063,768,330 (RM 7.06 billion)

Share of Total Trade 2.59%

Exports RM 5,872,816,498 (RM 5.87 billion)

Imports RM 1,190,951,832 (RM 1.19 billion)

Surplus RM 4,681,864,666 (RM 4.68 billion)

Rank 9

Commodities and Transactions Not Elsewhere Classified

Total Trade RM 5,112,543,962 (RM 5.11 billion)

Share of Total Trade 1.87%

Exports RM 1,616,624,419 (RM 1.62 billion)

Imports RM 3,495,919,543 (RM 3.50 billion)

Deficit RM -1,879,295,124 (RM -1.88 billion)

Rank 10

Beverages and Tobacco

Total Trade RM 479,225,969 (RM 479.23 million)

Share of Total Trade 0.18%

Exports RM 223,670,990 (RM 223.67 million)

Imports RM 255,554,979 (RM 255.55 million)

Deficit RM -31,883,989 (RM -31.88 million)

Source: Official Malaysia open data from data.gov.my and the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Figures are grouped by Standard International Trade Classification sections. Recent figures may be provisional and subject to revision.

Understanding Malaysia Trade Intensity by Sector

Trade intensity by sector shows how active each major trade category is when exports and imports are combined. A sector with high trade intensity has significant movement in both outbound and inbound trade, making it important for manufacturers, exporters, importers, freight forwarders, warehouse operators, and logistics service providers.

This dashboard ranks Malaysia’s major trade sectors by total trade value. Total trade is calculated by adding exports and imports. The result gives visitors a clear view of which sectors generate the largest overall trade activity in the latest available reporting month.

Why Trade Intensity Matters

A sector may not always have the largest export value or largest import value alone, but it may still be highly active when both sides of trade are considered. High trade intensity can indicate strong industrial activity, heavy cargo movement, major sourcing demand, strong export demand, or important supply chain relevance.

For logistics companies, trade intensity is especially useful because it relates closely to movement of goods. Sectors with high trade intensity may require more frequent shipment planning, customs documentation, warehousing, inland transport, port coordination, and cargo handling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does trade intensity mean?

Trade intensity means the level of trade activity in a sector, measured by adding exports and imports.

How is total trade calculated?

Total trade is calculated by adding exports and imports.

Why rank sectors by trade intensity?

Ranking sectors by trade intensity helps show which categories generate the most combined import and export activity.

How often is the data updated?

The official trade data is generally updated monthly. Recent figures may be provisional and subject to revision.

Data Notice:
The figures displayed on this page are based on official Malaysia open data and are provided for general information and reference. Recent figures may be provisional and subject to revision by the official data provider.