KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s trade with BRICS countries rose 20% to RM481.02 billion in the first half of 2026, The Star reported on Oct. 29.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni gave the figures in a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of parliament, The Star reported. Trade in the same period of 2025 was RM400.73 billion, the newspaper reported.
Key facts
- Exports to BRICS countries rose 17.4% to RM181.40 billion, The Star and the New Straits Times reported.
- Imports from BRICS countries rose 21.7% to RM299.62 billion, both newspapers reported.
- China, Indonesia and India account for about 90% of Malaysia’s trade with the bloc, The Star reported.
- BRICS countries made up 27.7% of Malaysia’s global trade in 2025, both newspapers reported.
Full-year 2025 figure differs
The two newspapers gave different totals for 2025. The Star reported RM846.05 billion. The New Straits Times reported RM846.5 billion. Both said the total was up 3.4% from RM818.04 billion in 2024.
Why Malaysia says it is engaging BRICS
“Our main objectives are to diversify strategic economic partners and reduce dependence solely on traditional markets,” Lukanisman said, The Star reported.
“Cooperation through BRICS provides significant added value and complements existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms and free trade agreements,” he said, the New Straits Times reported.
He was replying to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, the opposition member for Beluran, The Star reported.
Related coverage
Sources
- The Star, “Trade with BRICS countries rose 20% to over RM480bil this year, Dewan Rakyat told,” Oct. 29, 2026
- New Straits Times, “Malaysia’s trade with BRICS countries rises 20pct to RM481bil in first half of 2026,” Oct. 29, 2026
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