Malaysia's May trade surplus fell 1.25 percent to RM7.89 billion but was up 35 percent compared with the April outcome, official data showed Wednesday.

Exports for May rose 7.4 percent from a year earlier to RM49.56 billion and were up 3.4 percent from April while imports were up 3.5 percent to RM41.67 billion with the month-on-month gain at 3.4 percent.

"It was the highest monthly exports recorded in the last five months," the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said.

"Major (export) sectors which registered double-digit growth from the previous month were crude petroleum, scientific equipment, liquefied natural gas and electrical products," it said.

For the five months to May, the trade surplus was RM34.81 billion, with exports up 3.2 percent to RM233.84 billion and imports rising 4.6 percent to RM199.03 billion.