Malaysia's Dec exports, imports seen growing at slower pace

[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia's annual export growth in December is expected to slow slightly from the previous month's pace, a Reuters poll showed, due to weak global demand and slumping oil prices.

The median forecast was for a 5 per cent expansion in December from a year earlier, compared with a 6.3 per cent rise in November.

Imports were forecast to grow 4.3 per cent in December from a year earlier, slowing sharply from November's pace of 9.1 per cent.

Malaysia's trade surplus in December was seen falling to RM9.9 billion (US$2.35 billion) from RM10.23 billion the previous month.

REUTERS