Kuala Lumpur: Penang remained Malaysia's top exporter in December 2024, accounting for 38 percent of the country's total exports, according to the latest Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) data.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, DOSM reported that other leading exporters included Johor with 18.1 percent, Selangor with 16.2 percent, Sarawak with 7.4 percent, and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur with 3.7 percent. Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin noted that Malaysia's exports in December 2024 were valued at RM138.5 billion, marking an increase of RM20.1 billion or 16.9 percent compared to December 2023.

Mohd Uzir highlighted that the rise in exports was largely due to higher exports from several states. Penang saw an increase of RM15.4 billion, Johor RM4.7 billion, Selangor RM1.9 billion, Sabah RM1.3 billion, Perak RM1.1 billion, Melaka RM416.7 million, Kelantan RM18.5 million, and Perlis RM7.1 million.

On the other hand, the data revealed a decrease in exports among certain states, including Kedah which saw a decline of RM1.6 billion, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur with a drop of RM1.5 billion, Sarawak down by RM819.5 million, Negeri Sembilan RM415.5 million, Pahang RM342.1 million, the Federal Territory of Labuan RM30.0 million, and Terengganu RM15.1 million.

The chief statistician also reported a growth in the total import value for December 2024 by RM12.7 billion, reflecting an 11.9 percent increase from the same period in 2023. The growth in imports was attributed to higher imports in states such as Selangor with an increase of RM5.9 billion, Penang RM3.9 billion, Johor RM1.3 billion, Kedah RM1.1 billion, Perak RM704.5 million, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur RM590.1 million, Sarawak RM558.8 million, the Federal Territory of Labuan RM237.3 million, Sabah RM69.5 million, Melaka RM54.9 million, and Perlis RM32.3 million.

Conversely, imports decreased in Negeri Sembilan by RM1.3 billion, Pahang RM393.4 million, Terengganu RM139.7 million, and Kelantan RM115.9 million. DOSM further noted that Selangor led Malaysia's imports with a 28.4 percent share, followed by Penang at 22.9 percent, Johor at 20.6 percent, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur at 7.5 percent, and Kedah at 5.9 percent.