February export, import unit value indices remain positive

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s export and import unit value indices continued to record positive growth in February at 1.2 and 0.8 per cent month-on-month, respectively, said the Statistics Department.

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the export unit value index remained positive for the sixth consecutive month, while the import unit value index had improved since December last year.

“The export unit value index posted a positive growth at 1.2 per cent in February, which reflected a growth in the index of animal and vegetable oils and fats (4.8 per cent), mineral fuels (3.6 per cent) as well as machinery and transport equipment (0.4 per cent),” he said.

However, the export volume index declined 3.5 per cent compared with the previous month, attributed to the weak performance of the beverages and tobacco index (-20.2 per cent), machinery and transport equipment (-13.6 per cent) and manufactured goods (-3.8 per cent).

Mohd Uzir said the seasonally adjusted export volume index registered an expansion of 14.0 per cent to 162.7 points from 142.8 points previously.

“When compared with the previous year, the export unit value index dropped 0.6 per cent, while the export volume index registered an 18.3 per cent growth.”

He said February’s 0.8 per cent import unit value index growth was contributed by better performance of the mineral fuels index (6.3 per cent), manufactured goods (0.6 per cent) and machinery and transport equipment (0.3 per cent).

“The import volume index contracted by 5.3 per cent due to the weak performance of the machinery and transport equipment index (-7.6 per cent), manufactured goods (-7.3 per cent) and miscellaneous manufactured articles (-6.3 per cent).