Malaysian exports rise 8.7 per cent on the back of Asian growth

Feb 10, 2012, 5:08 GMT

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia's exports in 2011 rose by 8.7 per cent on the back of robust trade in Asia, the Trade Ministry said Friday.

It said Malaysia's export receipts totalled 694.55 billion ringgit (231 billion dollars) in 2011 compared to 639.43 billion ringgit in 2010.

Asian markets accounted for 71.3 per cent of total exports, followed by the crisis-hit European Union on 10.4 per cent and North America at 8.7 per cent.

Other markets were Oceania and Australia, 4.4 per cent, Africa, 2.1 per cent, Eastern Europe, 1.3 per cent, and Latin America, 1.8 per cent.

The country's main export products were liquefied natural gas, palm oil, machinery, appliances and parts, rubber products, crude petroleum, chemicals and chemical products, iron and steel products as well as processed food.