US president-elect Donald Trump has picked chose ExxonMobil boss Rex Tillerson to be his secretary of state, local media reported, citing transition team officials.

The New York Times said other mooted picks, including former presidential candidate Mitt Romney and former New York mayor and Trump loyalist Rudy Giuliani, had received phone calls late yesterday informing them of the decision.

Trump had said earlier on Twitter that he would announce his choice this morning (Monday morning in the US, with Malaysia being 13 hours ahead of Washington), without giving any further details.

However, Trump had indicated he was leaning towards 64-year-old Tillerson in an interview broadcast on Fox News on Sunday (yesterday in Malaysia), when he said the Texan was "a world-class player."

In a message on his Facebook page, Romney said his talks about the position with Trump had been "enjoyable and enlightening."

"I have very high hopes that the new administration will lead the nation to greater strength, prosperity and peace," Romney said.

Trump's choice has already attracted criticism due to Tillerson's close ties with Russia, where he represented Exxon's interests in the 1990s, and his friendly relationship with President Vladimir Putin.

In 2013 he was even awarded the Order of Friendship by the Russian government.

- dpa