06/06/2012 (Bernama) - Malaysia's total trade increased 3.2 per cent in April 2012 to RM107.97 billion from the same month last year, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said today.

He said exports declined slightly to RM57.74 billion from RM57.8 billion while imports increased 7.4 per cent to RM50.23 billion.

"Exports of manufactured goods, valued at RM38.66 billion, decreased by 1.2 per cent or RM458.9 million. It constituted 67 per cent of total exports in April," he said in a statement.

He said major export products for the month were electrical and electronic products (RM18.49 billion or 32 per cent), palm oil (RM4.24 billion or 7.3 per cent), refined petroleum products (RM4.19 billion or 7.3 per cent), liquefied natural gas (RM4.12 billion or 7.1 per cent) and chemicals and chemical products (RM3.84 billion or 6.7 per cent).

"The slower growth in major economies and worries over the Europe debt crisis impacted exports in April 2012, with lower exports of mainly electrical and electronic products (down 6.8 per cent or RM1.35 billion), crude rubber (down 48.4 per cent or RM710.8 million) and palm oil (down 12.5 per cent or RM604.4 million)," he added.

Mustapa said the main export destinations were Asean countries, China, Japan, the European Union and the United States.

In terms of imports, he said the key categories by end-use were intermediate goods (RM31.86 billion or 63.4 per cent), capital goods (RM7.98 billion or 15.9 per cent) and consumption goods (RM3.53 billion or seven per cent).

Top import sources were other Asian countries and United States, he said.

On a four-month basis, the nation's total trade grew by five per cent to RM425.63 billion compared to the same period last year.

Exports increased by 3.3 per cent to RM231.46 billion while imports rose by 7.1 per cent to RM194.17 billion.

"Significant expansion in trade was recorded over the past four months of the year with Asean (up 8.5 per cent or RM9.11 billion), China (up 12.6 per cent or RM6.34 billion) and Japan (up 5.7 per cent or RM2.68 billion)," Mustapa said.

He said manufactured goods were the highest contributor to exports with a total value of RM153.05 billion or 66.1 per cent.

Significant increases in exports were recorded for rubber products (up 17.1 per cent), machinery, appliances and parts (up 12.3 per cent), chemicals and chemical products (up 3.8 per cent) and optical and scientific equipment (up 8.3 per cent).

He said the top destinations for exports were other Asian countries, the United States and Australia.

In terms of imports for the period, the main categories by end-use were intermediate goods (RM123.46 billion or 63.6 per cent, capital goods (RM29.52 billion or 15.2 per cent) and consumption goods (RM14.09 billion or 7.3 per cent).

Mustapa said the main import sources were China, Singapore, Japan, the United States and Thailand.