Malaysia's Dec exports rise 6% on-year, below forecast

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's exports rose 6% in December, below analyst expectations, government data showed on Wednesday.

December's exports had been expected to grow 9%, according to 12 economists surveyed by Reuters.

Imports in the month grew 12% from a year earlier, data from the International Trade and Industry Ministry showed. Analysts were expecting 15.9% increase.

Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of 27.76 billion ringgit ($6.41 billion) in December.

($1 = 4.3340 ringgit)

(Editing by Ed Davies)