Malaysia's overall balance of payment increased by 86 percent to 25.3 billion ringgit (7.23 billion U.S. dollars) in year 2006 compared with the previous year, the Department of Statistics said Friday.

The current account soared to a surplus of 93.6 billion ringgit (26.74 billion U.S. dollars), up 23.6 percent on a year-on-year basis.

"The upward trend was mainly attributed to the goods account, which experienced higher surplus of 135 billion ringgit (38.57 billion U.S. dollars) from 125.6 billion ringgit (35.89 billion U. S. dollars) a year ago," the department said in a statement released here.

The financial account recorded higher net outflow of 43.5 billion ringgit (12.43 billion U.S. dollars) last year, compared with 37 billion ringgit (10.57 billion U.S. dollars) in 2005.

This was mainly due to net outflow of other investment ( investment other than direct investment and portfolio investment), which increased significantly by 112 percent to 56.4 billion ringgit (16.11 billion U.S. dollars), said the department.

Meanwhile, the net increase of international reserves held by Malaysia's central bank amounted to 25.3 billion ringgit (7.23 billion U.S. dollars) last year, compared with the increase of 13. 6 billion ringgit (3.89 billion U.S. dollars) recorded in 2005.

The current account records transactions in goods, services, income and current transfers while the financial account records changes in the country's foreign financial assets and liabilities, according to the department.

Source: Xinhua