PUTRAJAYA, June 19 -- Malaysia's trade performance shattered previous records in May, as a surge in demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and automotive technologies propelled exports to an all-time monthly high.

Data released by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) reveals that total trade jumped 29.8 per cent year-on-year to RM327.63 billion. This represents the fastest pace of growth in 44 months.

Exports were the primary driver, climbing 45.3 per cent to a record RM184 billion, eclipsing the previous high set in April. This milestone marks the 11th consecutive month of export expansion and the strongest growth rate seen since August 2022.

While imports grew at a more moderate 14.1 per cent to RM143.62 billion, th...