* What: Malaysia's November trade data
* When: Wednesday, Jan. 7, 12:01 p.m. (0401 GMT)
* Nov exports seen posting biggest decline in 6-½ yrs
By Varsha Tickoo
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Malaysia's exports are expected to post their biggest annual fall in more than 6-½ years in November, rocked by falling demand for manufactured items and sliding oil prices, according to a Reuters poll.
November exports are predicted to fall 6 percent from a year earlier, according to the median of a poll of 11 economists, compared to a 2.6 percent contraction in October when they fell for the first time since July 2007.
It would be the largest decline since February 2002, when they slumped 15.6 percent.
"(The) drastic plunge in commodity prices have taken the wind out of the sail for Malaysia's export performance. The support from commodity prices has dissipated and the drag from the depressed global demand is beginning to show," DBS said in a note on Monday.
Malaysia is being hit weakening demand for electronics goods, which make up the bulk of its exports, due to the worldwide economic slump while falling oil prices have pressured another key export item, palm oil.
Malaysian palm futures saw a whopping 44 percent decline in 2008.
Malaysia's exports to the United States, its single largest market, have been falling at a double-digit pace since August and demand from Asia is expected to remain under pressure as the global slowdown hits the region's export-driven economy.
"We expect this poor export performance to sustain (in Malaysia) for the best part of the first half (of 2009)," said IDEAglobal economist Gundy Cahyadi.
"It is also a concern that demand within Asia has apparently moderated, and further shrinkage in exports would only add pressure on the government to react decisively on the economy."
South Korea has predicted its 2009 exports would grow only 1 percent, its slowest pace in eight years, while Taiwan logged its biggest ever annual fall in export orders in November as demand from key markets slumped.
Imports, which track Malaysian exports, are also expected to fall in November by 5 percent from last year, compared to a 5.3 percent drop in October. Trade balance is seen at 9.43 billion ringgit, compared with 9.6 billion ringgit in October.
Forecasts for Malaysia's November exports and imports (percentage change from a year earlier) and trade balance (billions of ringgit):
Exports Imports Balance Action Economics -10.0 -6.0 7.50 Bank Islam
-8.2 -10.4 10.50 Calyon
-6.0 n/a n/a
DBS -5.3 -2.5 8.60
Forecast -5.7 -3.8 8.96
IDEAglobal.com -10.3 -7.5 8.10
JP Morgan -3.4 -3.1 9.90
Kenanga Investment Bank -6.7 -5.0 8.90 Nomura -10.0 n/a 19.00 Standard Chartered -0.8 -0.4 10.10
TA Securities -4.6 -5.6 10.30 ----------------------------------------------------- Median
-6.0 -5.0 9.43 (Reporting by Varsha Tickoo; Editing by Kazunori Takada)