21/05/2025

BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | MAY 21, 2025

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M’sia trade in April soars to RM261.9b o Exports grow to RM133.8b and imports to RM128.4b but balance falls to RM5.2 b

JOHOR BAHRU: Johor Plantations Group Bhd’s (JPG) profit after tax (PAT) rose 52% to RM75.27 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 (Q1’25), up from RM49.53 million in corresponding quarter last year on higher crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel (PK) prices. Quarterly revenue rose 15.4% to RM340.43 million in Q1’25 compared to RM294.91 million in Q1’254. Meanwhile, earnings per share (EPS) in the quarter increased to 3.04 sen from 2.45 sen a year ago. CPO delivery declined by 10.7% from 62,925 MT in Q1’24 to 56,203 MT in Q1’25, and PK delivery dipped by 4.6%, in line with industry trend. Despite lower production volumes, the group in a statement said that it continued to deliver strong financial results. This, it added was driven by a 22.2% increase in the average realised CPO selling price, a 65.2% rise in PK selling price, and a higher selling price premium recorded during the quarter, reinforcing the group’s ability to sustain performance through value optimisation. The group’s average CPO selling price stood at RM4,969/MT, reflecting a premium of RM236/MT over the Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB) average price. PK also commanded a premium, with an average price of RM3,898/MT, RM269/MT above the MPOB reference price. Given the elevated stock levels and the gradual recovery in demand, the group remains cautiously optimistic about its operational plans and production discipline to sustain resilient performance. JPG net profit jumps 52% year-on-year in Q1

PUTRAJAYA: A consistent increase in the global economy, along with the shifts in international demand for Malaysia’s goods, resulted in improved trade performance, said Department of Statistics, Malaysia (DoSM). Total trade showing a double digit 18.2% uptick from RM221.6 billion in the previous year to RM261.9 billion mainly attributable from the growth in imports of 20%, reaching RM128.4 billion and exports 16.4%, reaching RM133.6 billion. On the contrary, trade balance fell by 33% to RM5.2 billion in April 2025 as reported yesterday in DoSM’s Malaysia External Trade Statistics Bulletin, April 2025. Chief Statistician Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said that Malaysia’s export growth was driven by an increase in both domestic exports and re-exports in April 2025. Domestic exports, which accounted for 74.9% of total exports, rose by 9.1% to RM100 billion, while re exports, making up 25.1% of total exports, expanded by 46% to RM33.5 billion as compared to April 2024. Additionally, imports amounted to RM128.4 billion, an increase of 20% or RM21.4 billion. The trade surplus decreased 33% to RM5.2 billion, the 60th consecutive month of surplus since May 2020. Comparing with March 2025, imports and total trade recorded an increase of 14.1% and 4.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, exports and trade balance showed a decrease of 2.7% and 79.1%, respectively.

higher exports was attributable mainly to the US (+RM6 billion), followed by Singapore (+RM4.8 billion), Mexico (+RM2.5 billion), Taiwan (+RM2.2 billion), Thailand (+RM959.3 million), Australia (+RM634.5 million) and Indonesia (+RM621.5 million). Moreover, higher imports were mainly contributed from the US (+RM9.7 billion), followed by Taiwan (+RM6.8 billion), China (+RM5.1 billion), Mexico (+RM827.8 million), Ecuador (+RM415.3 million), Vietnam (+RM388.8 million) and Kuwait (+RM300.6 million). Commenting further on exports, he said the increase was reflecting the rise in electrical & electronic products (+RM15.8 billion); machinery, equipment & parts (+RM1.5 billion); other

From the perspective of the commodity group, 136 out of 258 export groups and 136 out of 260 import groups showed an increase as compared to the same month of the previous year. Mohd Uzir also pointed out that PEOPLElogy to scale up people development services by 2026 for electrical & electronic products (+RM21.5 billion); machinery, equipment & parts (+RM1.6 billion); transport equipment (+RM1 billion); other agriculture (+RM361.3 million); palm oil & palm-based agriculture products (+RM314.6 million); and processed food (+RM268.3 million). Adding to this, Mohd Uzir also underscored the upsurge in imports by end-use which was in accordance with higher demand for capital goods. manufactures (+RM826.9 million); processed food (+RM771 million); palm oil-based manufactured products (+RM627.7 million); and optical & scientific equipment (+RM621.9 million). Furthermore, the increase in imports was logged

Ű BY HAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com

Allen Lee said the group will set up offices and training centres in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching to tap into local upskilling demand. Beyond Malaysia, PEOPLElogy is targeting Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore to meet rising demand for digital talent across the region. “By next year, we should be in Sabah

and Sarawak. I spent almost nine months in 2023 visiting Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam — so I have a strong grasp of this region’s market potential. We’re targeting 2026 for our regional rollout,”he told reporters after the company’s debut on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia yesterday. Lee said PEOPLElogy’s current

operations are almost entirely based in Malaysia, contributing over 99% of its revenue, yet its future growth hinges on regional expansion. “We don’t expect any contribution from Indonesia or the Philippines in 2025,” Lee said. While regional expansion will only begin contributing in 2026, he said, the

company sees huge untapped potential in both domestic and regional markets. “Our market share in Malaysia is still low — around 1.5% to 2% — so there’s still a lot of room to grow here,”he added. PEOPLElogy opened at 24 sen, slightly below its initial public offering price of 25 sen apiece.

KUALA LUMPUR: PEOPLElogy Bhd aims to expand its integrated people development solutions across Sabah, Sarawak and the Southeast Asian region by 2026. Founder and managing director