Lower imports and exports registered

The visible trade gap in November stood at €101.0 million, down by €0.5 million compared to the same month in 2007, the National Statistics Office said.

It said there was a €59.1 million decrease in imports of and a €58.7 million decrease in exports. The decrease in imports was mainly due to industrial supplies and capital goods. Machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food and miscellaneous manufactured articles accounted for the decrease in exports.

The NSO said that in the first 11 months last year, the visible trade gap widened by €5.4 million, to stand at €1,238.7 million. This was due to a decrease of €177.6 million in imports and a decrease of €183 million in exports.

The decline in imports was mainly due to machinery and transport equipment. Decreases were also registered in miscellaneous manufactured articles, miscellaneous transactions and commodities, chemicals, food and semi-manufactured goods.

During this period the drop in exports was primarily due to machinery and transport equipment.

Other decreases were registered in miscellaneous manufactured articles and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials.

The bulk of Malta’s trade flows and consequent trade deficit continued to be directed towards the European Union.