Aug. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Malaysia's exports unexpectedly accelerated in June, boosted by U.S. demand for electronics such as semiconductors and higher oil shipments to China.

Exports rose 11.7 percent to 44.5 billion ringgit ($11.9 billion) from a year earlier, the trade ministry said today in a faxed statement in Kuala Lumpur. That was the fastest pace in three months and exceeded the median 8.5 percent increase forecast in a Bloomberg survey of 15 economists.

``Sustained demand for electronics could have boosted electronics exports in June,'' Leslie Tang, an economist at UOB- Kay Hian Pte in Singapore, said before the release of the trade data. There is also ``healthy demand for primary commodities such as palm oil and crude oil.''

Rising demand from the U.S., Malaysia's biggest overseas market, and high oil prices are helping boost exports of the semiconductors made by companies such as Unisem (M) Bhd. and oil produced by state-owned Petroliam Nasional Bhd. That may help the $118 billion economy meet the government's forecast of as much as 6 percent growth this year.

Exports to the U.S. surged 22 percent to 9.43 billion ringgit in June from a year earlier. Shipments of electrical and electronic goods accounted for four-fifths of sales to the U.S.

U.S. consumer spending and factory orders rose in June, reports yesterday showed. U.S. factory orders increased 1 percent in June, a fourth straight month of gains, the Commerce Department said. Consumer spending rose 0.8 percent in the same month, boosted by higher incomes.

Malaysia's exports of electrical and electronic goods, which made up more than half of overseas sales, expanded 12 percent in June from a year earlier.

Oil Prices

Crude oil shipments gained 35 percent, after rising 41 percent in May. Sales of refined petroleum products surged 51 percent, almost twice the pace in May. Shipments of liquefied natural gas rose 24 percent, about four times faster than in May. Petroleum accounted for 4.6 percent of Malaysia's exports.

Malaysia, a net oil exporter, is benefiting from record oil prices, which helped Petroliam Nasional post a record profit of 35.6 billion ringgit in the year ended March. Crude oil prices have risen more than 40 percent this year and reached an intraday record of $62.30 a barrel in New York on Aug. 1.

To contact the reporter on this story: Stephanie Phang in Kuala Lumpur at sphang@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: August 3, 2005 00:01 EDT