Malaysia's Feb exports seen rebounding, but imports to weaken: poll

[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia's exports are expected to have returned to growth in February helped by stronger commodities and oil prices, a Reuters poll showed.

Economists surveyed forecast that exports would expand 3.1 per cent from a year earlier after a 2.8 per cent decline in January, the first drop in eight months. Estimates were wide, however, ranging from an annual fall of 3.7 per cent to an increase of 7.2 per cent.

But imports in February were expected to drop 1.5 per cent from a year earlier, down from 3.3 per cent annual growth in January.

Malaysia's trade surplus in February was seen at RM6.31 billion (S$2.2 billion), up from RM5.4 billion the previous month.

REUTERS