KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s total trade for June 2023 amounted to RM222.1 billion (May 2023: RM223.8 billion) with exports and imports recorded RM124.0 billion and RM98.2 billion, respectively, the Statistics Department Malaysia (DoSM) said.

       Its chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said exports and imports decreased 14.1 per cent and 18.9 per cent, respectively, in June 2023 compared to June 2022.

       The drop in exports was attributed to the lower exports from most states. Johor exports fell by RM9.4 billion, Sarawak was lower by RM4.6 billion followed by Selangor RM3.5 billion. Other states include Sabah (-RM1.1 billion), Perak (-RM847.9 million), Terengganu (-RM380.1 million), Kelantan (-RM269.6 million), Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (-RM78.8 million) and Perlis (-RM13.7 million).

       "However, Penang exports rose by RM6.4 billion, Labuan added RM950.5 million and Kedah increased by RM882.6 million. Others states that saw their exports rising include Pahang (+RM336.8 million), Melaka (+RM209.7 million) and Negeri Sembilan (+RM81.4 million), the statement said.

       Penang remained as the top exporter with a 33.2 per cent share of the country’s total exports, followed by Johor (20.8 per cent), Selangor (17.3 per cent), Sarawak (6.3 per cent) and Kuala Lumpur (4.4 per cent), it said.

       Meanwhile, Selangor continued to dominate Malaysia’s imports with a 25.8 per cent share, followed by Johor (21.2 per cent), Penang (19.8 per cent), Melaka (7.2 per cent) and Kuala Lumpur (7.1 per cent). - Bernama