Malaysia's trade surplus surged to 11.45 billion ringgit (3.43 billion dollars) in September, up 29.9 percent from August and 11.8 percent from a year ago, official data showed Monday.

Total exports for September were 53.69 billion, down 0.3 percent from August but 1.1 percent higher from the same month last year, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said.

Imports came in at 42.24 billion ringgit, down 6.2 percent from August and 1.5 percent lower from a year ago.

"Major product sectors which contributed to the significant increase in exports ... were electrical and electronic products, transport equipment, crude petroleum as well as optical and scientific equipment," the ministry said.

Exports grew nine percent from the second quarter to 158.06 billion ringgit in the three months to September, while imports rose 6.1 percent to 129.83 billion ringgit, the highest quarterly growth for the year.

Total trade was 95.93 billion ringgit in September and 810.47 billion ringgit for the first nine months of the year.