Malaysia's April trade surplus down 9.4pc

June 05, 2007 00:00:00

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (AFP): Malaysia's trade surplus declined in April by 9.4 per cent to 6.0 billion ringgit (1.76 billion dollars) from 6.63 billion during the same month a year ago, official data showed today.

The April figure was also 7.9 per cent lower compared with a revised 6.52 billion ringgit in March.

Exports for April rose 0.9 per cent to 46.12 billion ringgit from 45.71 billion in the same month last year, but were 5.8 per cent lower against 48.99 billion ringgit for March this year, the figures showed.

"The decline in April export was consistent with past trends," the ministry of international trade and industry said.

"This was mainly attributable to lower exports of electrical and electronic products and to a lesser extent, chemicals and chemical products and machinery, appliances and parts," it said.

However, exports of iron and steel products, refined petroleum products, palm oil, wood products and optical and scientific equipment rose in April from March.