KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) of Malaysia said Wednesday that the escalating conflict in the Middle East will have a negligible impact on Malaysia's total trade.
MITI's Deputy Minister Sim Tze Tzen stated that trade with Iran accounted for only 2.45 billion ringgit (620 million U.S. dollars), or roughly 0.09 percent, of the nation's total trade volume in 2024, according to the country's national news agency Bernama.
"We only trade permitted items such as palm oil, textiles, and natural rubber," he said, noting that while petroleum and gas are affected areas, Malaysia's import volume from Iran remains low.
Sim also attributed the country's stable 2025 trade performance to its open and friendly trade policy, which balances geopolitical pressures without sacrificing export market access. ■