Miti: Malaysia's exports to US surge 69pc despite tariffs, powered by AI boom

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 — Malaysia’s exports to the United States surged 69.1 per cent to RM282.07 billion for January to September 2026, while total trade between the two countries rose 39.6 per cent to RM378.70 billion.

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) said Malaysia’s trade performance with the US continues to grow despite its exports being subjected to additional tariffs following investigations under various legal instruments conducted by the US.

According to the ministry, the strong export performance was mainly driven by a surge in demand for electrical and electronic (E&E) products, particularly semiconductors, following rapid developments in artificial intelligence (AI) technology and data centres.

“A critical factor driving this growth is Malaysia’s strategic advantage in receiving exemptions from additional tariffs imposed by the US on most semiconductor and E&E products,” said Miti in a written response published on the Parliament’s website on Tuesday.

The ministry was responding to Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (PH-Gombak), who sought to know the impact of US tariff impositions on Malaysia’s industry in 2026 and the new alternative markets being explored to enable micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to export their goods.

The ministry noted that the E&E sector accounts for about 64.2 per cent of Malaysia’s total exports to the US, with 44 per cent of E&E exports comprising semiconductor products.

However, Miti said that in the same period, Malaysia’s rubber glove exports to the US decreased by 1.6 per cent to RM5.0 billion, furniture exports fell by 19.2 per cent to RM3.77 billion, and medical device exports dropped by 12.0 per cent to RM8.74 billion.

He said several key Malaysian industries are under pressure to absorb US tariff costs or offer discounts to buyers to maintain product competitiveness, continue exports, and preserve access to that market.

“Miti believes that efforts to diversify markets and reduce excessive dependence on any single market are the best steps to minimise exposure to external shocks and to enhance the country’s trade resilience.

“In this regard, Miti continues to actively work to enhance market access and open new markets through various free trade agreements (FTAs) that have been signed, in addition to exploring non-traditional markets in West Asia, Africa, Latin America, and South Asia,” it added.

Meanwhile, in a separate reply to Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman (PN-Bachok), Miti said it is finalising the implementation of the New Incentive Framework (NIF) for the services sector, following its rollout for the manufacturing sector from March 1, 2026.

According to the ministry, the NIF shifts the tax incentive approach from a product- and activity-based system to a performance-based approach, with greater emphasis on outcomes and the economic impact generated by a project.

Miti said this in response to Mohd Syahir’s question about the reforms in the investment application evaluation process to ensure added value to the national economy, particularly through the creation of quality jobs. — Bernama

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吉隆坡，10月28日讯——2026年1月至9月，马来西亚对美国的出口额飙升69.1%，达到2820.7亿令吉，而两国之间的贸易总额增长39.6%，达到3787亿令吉。

马来西亚投资、贸易和工业部（MITI）表示，尽管美国根据各种法律文书对马来西亚出口商品进行了调查，并对其加征关税，但马来西亚与美国的贸易表现仍在持续增长。

据该部称，强劲的出口表现主要得益于人工智能技术和数据中心快速发展带动了对电气和电子产品（尤其是半导体）的需求激增。

“推动这一增长的关键因素是马来西亚的战略优势，即获得美国对大多数半导体和电子电气产品征收额外关税的豁免，”马来西亚国际贸易及工业部（MITI）周二在国会网站上发表的书面答复中表示。

该部回应了拿督斯里阿米鲁丁·沙里（希望联盟-贡巴克）的提问，他想了解美国对马来西亚工业征收关税在 2026 年的影响，以及正在探索哪些新的替代市场，以使微型、小型和中型企业 (MSME) 能够出口其产品。

该部指出，电子电气行业约占马来西亚对美出口总额的 64.2%，其中电子电气出口产品中有 44% 为半导体产品。

然而，马来西亚国际贸易及工业部表示，同期马来西亚对美国的橡胶手套出口下降了1.6%，至50亿令吉；家具出口下降了19.2%，至37.7亿令吉；医疗器械出口下降了12.0%，至87.4亿令吉。

他表示，马来西亚的几个关键行业正面临压力，不得不承担美国关税成本或向买家提供折扣，以保持产品竞争力、继续出口并保住进入该市场的机会。

“Miti认为，努力实现市场多元化，减少对任何单一市场的过度依赖，是最大限度减少外部冲击、增强国家贸易韧性的最佳途径。

“在这方面，国际贸易及工业部继续积极努力，通过已签署的各项自由贸易协定（FTA）加强市场准入，开拓新市场，同时探索西亚、非洲、拉丁美洲和南亚等非传统市场。”该部门补充道。

与此同时，在回复 Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman (PN-Bachok) 的另一份文件中，国际贸易及工业部表示，继 2026 年 3 月 1 日起在制造业推出新激励框架 (NIF) 之后，正在最终确定服务业新激励框架的实施方案。

据该部称，NIF 将税收激励方式从基于产品和活动的体系转变为基于绩效的体系，更加注重成果和项目产生的经济影响。

马来西亚国际贸易及工业部（MITI）就莫哈末·沙希尔提出的关于投资申请评估流程改革以确保为国民经济创造附加值，特别是通过创造高质量就业机会的问题作出了上述回应。——马新社

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