Malaysia's exports fall for first time in 6 months in September
Recasts, adds details
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (Reuters) -Malaysia's exports unexpectedly declined in September for the first time in six months, government data showed on Friday, weighed down by lower shipments of petroleum products and electrical and electronic goods.
Exports fell 0.3% in September from a year earlier, well below the forecast growth of 7.6% in a Reuters poll of economists.
Exports decreased mainly due to lower shipments of petroleum, electrical and electronic, and iron and steel products, the trade ministry said in a statement.
Exports of mining goods decreased 7.8% year-on-year to 7.33 billion ringgit ($1.70 billion), with the ministry reporting reduced volumes and prices for crude petroleum shipments.
However, exports of agriculture goods recorded a sixth straight month of growth, rising 10.9% year-on-year to 9 billion ringgit in September.
"This was driven by robust demand for palm oil and palm oil-based agriculture products following higher export volumes and prices," the ministry said.
Imports in September grew 10.9% from a year earlier, the data showed, weaker than the 21.7% increase analysts had forecast in the poll.
Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of 13.19 billion ringgit ($3.06 billion) in September, above the poll forecast of an 9.5 billion ringgit surplus.
($1 = 4.3040 ringgit)
Reporting by Danial Azhar and Rozanna Latiff; Editing by John Mair
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