Malaysia in August chalked up its 82nd consecutive trade surplus and its highest since December 1999 with a total of RM8.06 billion, the trade ministry said today.

The August outcome was up 9.5 percent from RM7.36 billion in July.

Exports in August rose 23.7 percent year-on-year but were down 2.2 percent from July to hit RM41.44 billion, led by significant gains in electrical and electronic products, crude petroleum, chemicals and chemical products, refined petroleum products, liquefied natural gas and wood products.

Imports for the month rose 29.1 percent year-on-year to RM33.38 billion but were down 4.7 percent from July, the ministry said.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the United States, the European Union, Japan, China and Hong Kong collectively accounted for 80.3 percent of Malaysia's total exports for the month.

In the January to August period, the trade surplus stood at RM52.74 billion, compared with RM54.25 billion in the same period last year.