Malaysia's trade surplus rose by almost 50 percent in June to around RM13 billion compared with a year earlier, official figures showed today.

The positive balance of RM12.97 billion came after exports jumped 18.4 percent and represented the 128th consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said.

"Major product sectors which contributed to the increase in exports were palm oil, refined petroleum products, crude petroleum, electric and electronic products and liquefied natural gas," the ministry said.

The June surplus was 47.7 percent higher than the same period last year.

Exports reached RM58.23 billion, up nearly 19 percent from June 2007, but fell 4.6 percent from May this year.

June imports grew 12.1 from last year to RM45.26 billion and were 0.73 percent lower against May levels.

Malaysia's exports to the US, its main trading partner, fell to RM7.07 billion in June, a 5.9 percent decline from the same period last year on lower shipments of electrical and electronic products.