KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — Malaysia’s export unit value index slipped by 0.9 per cent to 148.0 points in December 2023 from 149.3 points in the previous month, said the Department of Statistics (DOSM) today.
The import unit value index decreased by 1.0 per cent to 129.6 points from 130.9.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the drop in the export unit value index in December 2023 versus November 2023 was led by a decrease in the index of animal and vegetable oils and fats, which shed 3.6 per cent, mineral fuels, which lost 2.4 per cent) and manufactured goods which dropped 0.5 per cent.
“At the same time, the export volume index went down by 1.8 per cent in line with the decrease in the index of mineral fuels, which depreciated by 14.8 per cent, food, which went down by 8.0 per cent, and chemicals which shed 3.9 per cent,” he said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted export volume index declined by 9.3 per cent to 140.9 points from 155.4.
On an annual comparison, the unit value index grew 2.4 per cent and the volume index decreased by 12.0 per cent.
Mohd Uzir said the 1.0 per cent fall in the import unit value index in December 2023 was due to a decrease in the index of mineral fuels by 4.5 per cent, machinery and transport equipment which dropped by 0.5 per cent, and chemicals which was down by 0.5 per cent.
He added that the import volume index also dropped by 1.6 per cent in December 2023 versus the previous month, due to the contraction in the chemicals by 6.3 per cent, machinery and transport equipment which dropped by -3.8 per cent and miscellaneous manufactured articles that shed 1.2 per cent.
“The seasonally adjusted import volume index edged up by 0.2 per cent to 188.4 points from 188.1 points. The year-on-year comparison showed that the import unit value index shrank by 0.3 per cent, and the volume index rose by 3.4 per cent,” Mohd Uzir said.
Additionally, DOSM said Malaysia’s terms of trade expanded by 0.1 per cent month-on-month to 114.6 points in December 2023, driven by the increase in the index of mineral fuels that added 2.2 per cent, food which rose 0.9 per cent, and inedible crude materials that advanced 0.8 per cent.
On a year-on-year basis, its terms of trade grew by 2.7 per cent from 111.6 points in December 2022, said DOSM.
— Bernama
