Malaysia's total trade up 11.5 pct during Jan.-June

Malaysia's total trade during the first six months of 2006 increased by 11.5 percent to 511.51 billion ringgit (138.1 billion U.S. dollars) on a year-on-year basis, the Department of Statistics said Friday.

Total exports during the period expanded by 10.6 percent to 280. 26 billion ringgit (75.74 billion U.S. dollars), compared with the same period of the year 2005, the department said in a release.

Also during the period, total imports grew by 12.6 percent to 231.25 billion ringgit (62.5 billion U.S. dollars).

Trade surplus for the first six months stood at 49.01 billion ringgit (13.24 billion U.S. dollars), said the department.

Export markets recording significant growth during the period included New Zealand, with an increase of 115.8 percent; India, 16. 5 percent; and the Republic of Korea, up 15.4 percent, said the department.

Source: Xinhua