Malaysia's exports rose 16 percent from a year earlier to hit growth an all-time monthly record of RM46.67 billion in March, the trade ministry said today.

Imports for the month rose 8.7 percent to RM36.29 billion to give a record trade surplus of RM10.38 billion, up 51.2 percent on March 2004, the ministry said.

Total trade for the first quarter of 2005 was RM219.71 billion, with a surplus of RM25.15 billion. Exports in the first quarter were up 13.5 percent while imports were 9.8 percent higher.

March was the 89th consecutive monthly trade surplus since November 1997.

"All major products registered double digit growth in exports, with the most significant growth recorded for electrical and electronic products, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, palm oil, appliiances and parts and chemicals and chemical products," the ministry said.

Exports to fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) were up 31.7 percent from February, followed by the European Union, 20.7 percent, the United States, 28.5 percent, and Hong Kong up 43.6 percent.

These countries plus Japan and China were the major export markets in March, taking 78.6 percent of total shipments.