KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8): CIMB Investment Bank Bhd said Malaysia's 1.7% on year export growth in August 2014 had exceeded the bank's and market expectations.
CIMB wrote in a note that it had initially estimated August exports to decrease 2.7% while the market had expected a 0.2% increase.
“This extended the growth trend to 14 straight months, a streak not seen since Feb 2012,” CIMB said.
Yesterday, the Statistics Department reported that the country's August exports grew 1.7% to RM63.88 billion from a year earlier.
Imports grew 7.6% to RM60.02 billion from RM55.78 billion, translating into a trade surplus of RM3.86 billion.
Cumulative eight-month exports rose 9.5% on year to RM505.13 billion while imports climbed 6.1% to RM452.82 billion.