Apex Securities has significantly upgraded its growth projection for Malaysia’s external trade, raising the 2026 export forecast to 16.3% year-on-year from a previous estimate of 8.1%.
The revision follows a sharp acceleration in outbound shipments, which surged 45.3% in May, driven largely by strength in the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector.
4% year-on-year jump in outbound shipments for the first 20 days of June, indicating that the external sector across Southeast and East Asia is benefiting from sustained global demand for tech hardware.
The brokerage’s upward adjustment reflects a broader momentum in Asia’s technology supply chain.
The May data point suggests that demand for semiconductors and electronic components remains resilient, supporting the view that Malaysia’s export engine is gaining significant traction heading into the second half of the year.
This development aligns with a wider regional trend of accelerating export growth.
Neighboring South Korea recently reported a 60.4% year-on-year jump in outbound shipments for the first 20 days of June, indicating that the external sector across Southeast and East Asia is benefiting from sustained global demand for tech hardware.