MALAYSIA RECORDS HIGHEST TRADE FIGURE IN HISTORY OF RM3 TRILLION IN 2025 - PM ANWAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) will announce Malaysia's highest-ever trade figure for 2025 this afternoon, marking another significant achievement for the country's economy.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the detailed announcement would be made by MATRADE this afternoon, involving Malaysia's trade volume reaching an all-time high of RM3 trillion.

“The figure will be announced in detail this afternoon with the trade volume for 2025 reaching an all-time high. So, that is why I have formulated the need for policy clarification, good discipline and governance and exploring new markets,” he said in reply to a question at the Dewan Rakyat today.

The Prime Minister was replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad (BN-Simpang Renggam) regarding the government's steps to address global trade market tensions.

He said the trade achievements were registered despite global geopolitical uncertainties and changes in major power policies that directly affect international trade.

“It is indeed a statement that should be given attention because of the geopolitical positions and changes, the uncertain policies of several major powers including the United States, whether related to tariffs or several other decisions involving countries in Europe, the Greenland and Venezuela issues, which affect many international trade transactions as well as the penetration of new markets,” he said.

The government has therefore adopted a realistic approach by exploring new sectors and markets, including new technologies, while simultaneously maintaining relationships with traditional trading partners, Anwar said.

“Other than long-standing trading partners like the United States, Europe and China, we have also successfully penetrated new regions and areas to expand markets and trade,” he said.

In a related development, he said approved investments rose by 13.2 per cent to RM285.2 billion for the first nine months of 2025 versus a year ago.

It was among the highest in the country’s history, following RM329.5 billion recorded in 2023 and RM384.4 billion in 2024.

Anwar said the country’s robust 2025 economic performance recorded a 4.9 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth, surpassing the official projection of between 4.0 and 4.8 per cent, driven by a 5.7 per cent growth in the last quarter.

The ringgit also recorded its best performance in five years, strengthening by 4.05 per cent against the US dollar, while the Bursa Malaysia index rose to as high as 1,700 points, the highest in seven years.

Additionally, the November 2025 unemployment rate declined to 2.9 per cent, the lowest level in 11 years, he said.

The Prime Minister said the government is prepared to implement challenging policy reforms to build investor confidence, including the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which helped reduce the fiscal deficit from 5.5 per cent in 2022 to 3.8 per cent in 2025.

-- BERNAMA