Malaysia Nov exports beat expectations, trade surplus highest since Nov 2011

[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia's exports in November rose 2.1 per cent from a year earlier, well above expectations, supported by electrical and electronic products despite a drop in commodity-related exports, government data showed on Wednesday.

A Reuters poll had estimated November exports would drop 0.4 per cent.

Imports were flat from a year earlier, much lower than an expected 8.2 per cent rise.

The country's trade surplus for the month expanded to 11.13 billion ringgit (US$3.12 billion), the highest in value terms since November 2011. In October, the trade surplus was at 1.2 billion ringgit and the forecast for November was 4.9 billion ringgit.

REUTERS