Export, import indices remains positive for Sept 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s export unit value index rose 0.5 per cent to 116.0 points, while the import unit value index grew 1.2 per cent to 120.2 points in September 2018 compared to preceding month, said the Department of Statistics (DoS) yesterday.

Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the export was contributed by mineral fuels (+1.2 per cent), followed by chemicals (+ 0.6 per cent) and machinery and transport equipment (+ 0.5 per cent).

He said this in a statement today after the release of the External Trade Indices, September 2018 report, which presents statistics on the Unit Value Index, as well as Volume Index by Sections, for both exports and imports of goods.

He said the export volume index also registered an increase of 1.0 per cent to 134.5 points.

The increase was led by animal, vegetable oils and fats (+14.7 per cent), mineral fuels (+ 4.2 per cent) and machinery & transport equipment (+1.7 per cent).

“In seasonally adjusted terms, the export volume index increased 1.7 per cent to 130.9 points. When compared to the previous year, the export unit value index and export volume index posted an increase of 3.5 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively,” said Mohd Uzir.

Meanwhile, in September, the import unit value was mainly led by mineral fuels (+ 5.6 per cent) followed by machinery and transport equipment (+ 0.6 per cent) and food (+ 0.4 per cent).

The import volume index decreased 16.5 per cent to 128.1 points as this was mainly attributed to machinery and transport equipment (-22.0 per cent), manufactured goods (-16.8 per cent) and mineral fuels (-16.0 per cent).

“In seasonally adjusted terms, the import volume index decreased 16.5 per cent to 126.0 points. When compared to the previous year, the import unit value index posted an increase of 4.4 per cent, while the import volume index fell 6.7 per cent,” said Mohd Uzir.

The DoS also reported that Malaysia’s terms of trade decreased 0.7 per cent to 96.5 points, when compared with August 2018.

“On a year- on-year basis, Malaysia’s terms of trade fell 0.9 per cent from 97.3 points,” it said. — Bernama