Malaysia records RM2.9tn in total trade for 2024, with five states driving 81.6% of activity: DOSM

Pulau Pinang, Selangor, Johor, Kuala Lumpur, and Sarawak emerged as top contributors to Malaysia’s external trade in 2024, according to DOSM’s latest state-level report.

Malaysia’s total trade stood at RM2.9tn in 2024, comprising RM1.5tn in exports and RM1.2tn in imports, according to the Malaysia External Trade Statistics by State 2025 report released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) on 16 June 2025.

Five states namely Pulau Pinang, Johor, Selangor, Sarawak and W.P. Kuala Lumpur contributed 81.6% of the country’s total trade value in 2024. The Malaysia External Trade Statistics by State has been published for the first time, as a series of 15 reports covering each state.

Trade openness rises, led by Pulau Pinang and Johor

Malaysia’s Trade Openness Index (TOI), which is a measure of trade dependence on the economy rose to 149.0 in 2024, an increase from 144.6 the previous year.

While the 2024 state-level TOI is still being finalised alongside the GDP by state, 2023 figures show four states recording higher trade openness than the national level. These states are Pulau Pinang with a TOI of 542.6, Johor at 326.8, W.P. Labuan with 229.3, and Kedah at 220.1.

Export growth driven by electronics, petroleum, and gas

Exports grew 5.7% in 2024, reaching RM1.5tn. Key contributors to export growth were Pulau Pinang (+RM61.7bn), Johor (+RM28.3bn), and Selangor (+RM28.0bn), followed by Perak (+RM10.8bn), Terengganu (+RM6.4mn), Sarawak (+RM4.4bn), Kedah (+RM1.8bn), Pahang (+RM1.0bn), Melaka (+RM457.5bn), Kelantan (+RM311.4mn), and Negeri Sembilan (+RM272.1mn).

Pulau Pinang retained its position as the top exporting state with a 32.8% share, followed by Johor (20.3%), Selangor (17.6%), Sarawak (7.7%), and W.P. Kuala Lumpur (4.3%).

The growth was driven primarily by electronic integrated circuits in Pulau Pinang and Selangor, refined petroleum products in Johor, and liquefied natural gas in Sarawak.

However, exports fell in Sabah (–RM59.3bn), W.P. Kuala Lumpur (–RM3.4bn), W.P. Labuan (–RM896.4mn), and Perlis (–RM112.8mn).

Pulau Pinang maintained its top position in exports, contributing 32.8% of the national total. The state’s growth was driven primarily by electronic integrated circuits, a trend mirrored in Selangor.

In Johor, refined petroleum products were the key export, while liquefied natural gas led exports in Sarawak.

Imports rise 13.2%, led by Pulau Pinang and Johor

Malaysia’s imports rose 13.2% in 2024, or RM159.8bn year-on-year. Leading import contributors were Pulau Pinang (+RM53.1bn), Johor (+RM52.5bn), Selangor (+RM51.3bn), Kedah (+RM23.7bn), and W.P. Kuala Lumpur (+RM21.5bn).

Selangor led import activity with a 26.0% share, followed by Johor (23.0%), Pulau Pinang (21.4%), W.P. Kuala Lumpur (7.7%), and Kedah (6.1%).

Growth was attributed to increased imports of electrical and electronics products in Selangor, refined petroleum products in Johor, and electronic integrated circuits in Pulau Pinang and Kedah. In W.P. Kuala Lumpur, telecommunications equipment, parts, and accessories were the main imports.

State-level trade data to support policy and planning

These numbers cover data from 2019 to 2024 and provides detailed insights by commodity, country, economic groupings, and trader types.

The statistics were generated using DOSM’s Trade Enterprise Characteristics (TEC) module under its Statistics Big Data Analytics (STATSBDA) initiative, which integrates trade data with the Malaysia Statistical Business Register. The insights are intended to support more targeted economic strategies at the state level.

Lead image / DOSM