Resilient Trade During The COVID-19 Pandemic: Why Does Export Diversification Matter?

Abstract

Trade economists emphasised that export diversification plays an essential role to mitigate trade shocks. Nevertheless, little empirical evidence justified the argument regarding pandemic-led disruption effects. The study examines the role of export diversification in mitigating the adverse effect of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Malaysia. The results suggest that a country-based export diversification plays a vital role in minimising COVID-19 exports disruptive effect, with greater weight on the regional trade. Nevertheless, long-term product diversification is relatively beneficial to promote growth and trade resilience.