PUTRAJAYA: Sabah’s total trade amounted to RM105.5 billion in 2025, maintaining the state’s trade performance above RM100 billion for four consecutive years, despite recording a 2.1 per cent contraction compared to the previous year.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) has published the Sabah External Trade Statistics, 2026.
This publication presents comprehensive statistics on the value and volume of Sabah’s external trade, including the Federal Territory of Labuan, by trading partners and detailed commodity classifications.
In its statement, DOSM reported that Sabah’s total exports amounted to RM57.7 billion in 2025, a decline of 5.9 per cent from RM61.3 billion recorded in 2024.
Meanwhile, imports increased by 2.8 per cent to RM47.8 billion, compared to RM46.4 billion in the previous year.
Sabah’s trade balance remained in surplus at RM9.9 billion, although it declined by 33.3 per cent from RM14.9 billion in 2024.
Despite global economic uncertainties and moderating demand for several key commodities, Sabah’s trade performance continued to demonstrate remarkable resilience.
In terms of commodities, crude petroleum continued to dominate Sabah’s exports with a value of RM17.1 billion, contributing 29.7 per cent of the state’s total exports, followed by palm oil at RM16.8 billion (29.2%) and liquefied natural gas at RM4.6 billion (8.1%).
Nevertheless, exports of crude petroleum and palm oil declined by 19.6 per cent and 2.9 per cent, respectively, while exports of liquefied natural gas increased by 2.0 per cent. On the import side, refined petroleum products (RM4.8 billion) and manufactured fertilizers (RM1.1 billion) were the major imported commodities.
Sabah’s external trade statistics also include inter-regional trade transactions with Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, based on the physical movement of goods through entry and exit points in Sabah.
From the perspective of major trading partners, Peninsular Malaysia remained Sabah’s largest trading partner, with total trade valued.
STATISTIK NADI KEHIDUPAN Statistics is the Essence of Life 1at RM49.6 billion, representing 47.1 per cent of the state’s total trade. China remained the second largest trading partner with a trade value of RM10.4 billion, followed by Thailand (RM4.4 billion), the Republic of Korea (RM4.2 billion) and Japan (RM4.0 billion).
Meanwhile, Sabah’s exports to ASEAN countries amounted to RM11.2 billion, a decline of 4.2 per cent compared to the previous year. Among ASEAN countries, the Philippines was Sabah’s main export destination, with exports valued at RM3.9 billion, accounting for 34.5 per cent of Sabah’s total exports to the region.
Thailand ranked second with exports valued at RM3.0 billion (26.4%), followed by Vietnam at RM2.1 billion (18.6%).
By economic sector, the mining sector remained the largest contributor to Sabah’s exports, with a value of RM23.2 billion, representing 40.2 per cent of total exports.
This was followed by the agriculture sector at RM22.1 billion (38.3%) and the manufacturing sector at RM12.3 billion (21.3%).
By end use, intermediate goods remained the largest import category, valued at RM17.5 billion, accounting for 36.7 per cent of Sabah’s total imports.
This was followed by consumption goods at RM15.6 billion (32.6%) and capital goods at RM7.3 billion (15.3%). Imports of consumption goods and capital goods increased by 13.2 per cent and 9.1 per cent, respectively, while imports of intermediate goods declined by 5.9 percent.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) is conducting the Economic Census 2026 (BE2026), with themed “Data Nadi Ekonomi Rakyat”. The sixth Economic Census, will be carried out from 5th January to 31st October 2026. BE2026 aims to collect comprehensive and structured data from all registered and unregistered business establishments in Malaysia to assess the nation’s economic performance, structure and characteristics in an evidence-based manner.
OpenDOSM NextGen is a medium that provides data catalogue and visualisations to facilitate users’ analysis and can be accessed through https://open.dosm.gov.my.
