Malaysian Oct exports, imports seen falling again: poll

[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia is expected to report exports in October fell for the second month in a row, a Reuters poll showed, due to a higher base of comparison with last year and despite a recovery in commodity prices.

Economists surveyed by Reuters forecast exports fell 5.8 per cent in October, nearly twice the pace as in September. Individual estimates ranged from a 4.8 per cent fall to a 10 per cent decline.

Shipments have been pressured by weak oil prices and a slump in demand for manufactured goods.

Imports in October were forecast to dip 0.2 per cent from a year earlier, little changed from a 0.1 per cent fall in September.

Malaysia's trade surplus is expected to widen slightly to RM8.1 billion (S$2.59 billion), from RM7.6 billion in September.

REUTERS