RAM Rating Services has estimated Malaysia’s exports to have surged 16.3 per cent in February (January: -1.5 per cent), boosted by low-base effects and the front-loading of orders amid fears of global supply-chain disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic

RAM Rating Services has estimated Malaysia’s exports to have surged 16.3 per cent in February (January: -1.5 per cent), boosted by low-base effects and the front-loading of orders amid fears of global supply-chain disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It said the same trend is observable for key regional economies.

RAM said Malaysian imports are also estimated to have accelerated in February, albeit at a slower pace of 1.4 per cent (January: -2.4 per cent), resulting in a trade surplus of RM21.2 billion.

“The onslaught of Covid-19 paints a gloomy picture for overall global growth and trade prospects, as numerous epicentres have emerged throughout the world.

“These include major European economies and the US, which has since emerged as having the highest number of Covid-19 cases,” it said.

RAM said the American economy – the world’s biggest – is both a key supplier of value-added and large consumer of global output.

Within Asean, Singapore’s exports are the most vulnerable to American supply disruptions.

It said some 5.9 per cent of the island state’s gross exports derives value-added input from the US. This comes ahead of Malaysia’s 3.8 per cent.

RAM said on the demand side, the Philippines and Vietnam have the biggest exposures, with a respective 21.3 per cent and 21.1 per cent of their total exported value-added consumed by the US.

This is significantly higher than the Asean-wide average of 15.4 per cent and Malaysia’s 14.3 per cent.

“Given the scale of the pandemic and the time needed to contain it, what had once been perceived as primarily a China-centric supply-chain disruption has turned into a worldwide issue.

“As such, global trade will face prolonged and severe weakness in 2020,” it said.