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Malaysia wields cheap ringgit to beat peers in export race

Its shipments are growing the fastest, accelerating to a seven-year high of 33% in May on the weak currency

Published Thu, Jul 13, 2017 · 09:50 PM

Kuala Lumpur

WHEN the global trade rebound came this year, Malaysia held one advantage over its peers: the cheapest currency in South-east Asia.

The ringgit is down more than 7 per cent against the dollar in the past year, even after recovering in 2017. Exports from Indonesia to Vietnam are surging but Malaysia's shipments are growing the fastest, accelerating to a seven-year high of 33 per cent in May.