KUALA LUMPUR: Trade with China, which contributed 16.6 per cent or RM37.07 billion to Malaysia's total trade, declined marginally by 0.2 per cent year-on-year.
Exports to China improved by 1.5 per cent to RM15.49 billion after registering five consecutive months of decline.
The growth was driven by higher demand of metalliferous ores and metal scrap, liquefied natural gas (LNG) as well as chemicals and chemical products.
Imports from China reduced by 1.4 per cent to RM21.58 billion.
Compared with April 2023, trade, exports and imports edged up by 8.9 per cent, 12.1 per cent and 6.7 per cent, respectively.
Trade with China during the period of January to May 2023 eased by 4.3 per cent to RM179.76 billion compared with the same period of 2022.
Exports contracted by 8.9 per cent to RM75.3 billion due to lower exports of iron and steel products, electronic & electronics products and petroleum products.
On the contrary, strong exports was recorded for LNG as well as metalliferous ores and metal scrap.
Imports from China was down by 0.6 per cent to RM104.45 billion.