Malaysia's exports in August jumped 48.2% from a year earlier, above expectations, government data showed on Tuesday.

August exports had been forecast to expand 34.4%, according to 13 economists surveyed in a Reuters poll.

Imports in the same month grew 67.6% from a year earlier, the data showed. Analysts had expected an increase of 49.4%.

Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of 16.9 billion ringgit ($3.71 billion) in August. ($1 = 4.5500 ringgit) (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor)