Export, import unit value indices records growth in December

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s export and import unit value indices grew 1.0 per cent monthon-month (m-o-m) and 0.4 per cent m-o-m respectively in December 2020, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

In its External Trade Indices (2010=100), December 2020 report released yesterday, DOSM said the report presents the unit value and volume index by sections for both exports and imports of goods.

Commenting on the report, chief statistician Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the positive growth in the export unit value index was contributed by the growth in the indices of animal and vegetable oils and fats (+7.7 per cent), mineral fuels (+5.0 per cent) and manufactured goods (+0.6 per cent).

“The export volume index also grew 11.9 per cent monthon-month (m-o-m) compared with November 2020, which was contributed by the better performance of the index of animal and vegetable oils and fats (+49.0 per cent), mineral fuels (+16.6 per cent) and machinery and transport equipment (+8.7 per cent).

“Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted export volume index registered an expansion of 12.2 per cent from 139.9 points to 157.0 points,” he said.

Year-on-year (y-o-y), Mohd Uzir said the export unit value index dropped 3.0 per cent while the export volume index rose 14.2 per cent.

Meanwhile, he attributed the growth in the import unit value index to the increases in the animal and vegetable oils and fats (+7.7 per cent), mineral fuels (+6.5 per cent) and manufactured goods (+0.5 per cent) indices.

Similarly, he added that the import volume index also grew by 10.5 per cent, which was contributed from the better performance in the chemicals (+14.3 per cent), manufactured goods (+11.1 per cent) and machinery and transport equipment (+10.3 per cent) indices.

He said the seasonally adjusted import volume index in December 2020 rose 12.4 per cent from 131.8 points to 148.1 points.

“On a y-o-y basis, the import unit value index declined 4.2 per cent, while import volume index expanded 6.0 per cent,” he added.

DOSM also reported that Malaysia’s terms of trade rose 0.6 per cent m-o-m to 100.2 points in December 2020 from 99.6 points in November 2020.

On a y-o-y basis, it said Malaysia’s terms of trade also showed a similar trend at 1.3 per cent to 100.2 points in December 2020 from 99.0 points previously, it said.

Meanwhile, DOSM said the second phase of Malaysia Population and Housing Census 2020 via face-to-face interview will be rescheduled following the implementation of the Movement Control Order.

“Therefore, people who have not yet completed the census can take the opportunity to fill in the online census (e-Census) which will be reopened,” it said.