KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): Malaysia’s November 2017 exports rose 14.4% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM83.5 billion on higher electrical and electronic (E&E) exports and as commodity sales improved.

In a statement today, the Statistics Department said E&E products, which comprised 38% of total exports, grew 21%. Higher sales of commodities including timber and oil palm-based products besides liquefied natural gas, also contributed to the nation's exports increase. 

"On a y-o-y basis, exports increased due to higher exports to Hong Kong (+RM1.8 billion), Singapore (+RM1.8 billion), Republic of Korea (+RM1.5 billion), European Union (+RM900.1 million) and United States (+RM890.0 million)," the department said.

Malaysia's imports also rose. The department said November imports grew 15.2% y-o-y, as the country bought more intermediate, capital and consumption goods.

"On a y-o-y basis, higher imports were mainly from Singapore (+RM2.6 billion), China (+RM1.7 billion), European Union (+RM1.2 billion), Taiwan (+RM1.1 billion) and India (+RM978.8 million)," the department added.

In October 2017, Malaysia's exports and imports grew 18.9% and 20.9% from a year earlier respectively, according to the department.