KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): Malaysia's exports grew 1.5% to RM67.6 billion in August from a year earlier, as the nation sold more oil palm and electrical and electronic (E&E) products. Crude oil and timber product exports also rose.

In a statement today, the Statistics Department said oil palm and E&E exports grew 19.7% and 3% respectively. Crude oil and timber-based exports rose 13.9% and 7.4% respectively.

The country's imports also rose from a year earlier. The department said August imports climbed 4.9% to RM59.1 billion.

"The increase in imports was mainly attributed to intermediate goods, capital goods and consumption goods," the department said.

Malaysia's August on-year export and import numbers had improved. In July, exports fell 5.3% from a year earlier, while imports dropped 4.8%.