Exports dropped to 53.46 billion ringgit (S$22.48 billion) while imports also slid 5.3 per cent to 43.84 billion ringgit, the trade and industry ministry said in a statement.

October's trade surplus also fell to 9.62 billion ringgit from 14.74 billion in September.

'The decline in exports was mainly attributed to lower exports of electrical and electronic products and commodities, namely refined and crude petroleum as well as palm oil,' it said.

'Major markets that registered declines were the United States of America, Singapore, the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong and Australia.'

The United States is the main market for Malaysia's electrical and electronics goods, which account for about 40 per cent of total exports.

Malaysia's total trade for January to October reached 1.012 trillion ringgit, with exports expanding by 13.9 percent to 565.66 billion ringgit and imports rising by 7.4 per cent to 446.81 billion ringgit. -- AFP