Many budding exporters in the food and beverage industry envisage a stable outlook in employment and turnover, according to a study conducted by Trade Malta Ltd during the first quarter of 2016.

The study focused on uncovering the inter-nationalisation intentions of Malta-based companies within this sector.

The report found that 80 per cent of the companies within the sector are Maltese-owned, with the majority established in the 1990s.

Although 82 per cent of the respondents are exporting, under 20 per cent reported that more than 45 per cent of their turnover came from exports.

“There are, in other words, many small exporters in this sector, but few big ones,” Trade Malta said. The target regions for the surveyed companies are predominantly in Europe and the Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region, indicating a strong preference for markets in close geographical proximity.

Transport costs and cost of raw materials both pose a challenge for companies wishing to export their products.

Of the many types of assistance Trade Malta can offer, financial support to participate in trade fairs and overseas travel was deemed most important, while introductions to potential clients and assistance to conduct R&D also ranked highly.

This is the second of a series of studies which Trade Malta is undertaking in key sectors. Individuals interested in obtaining an electronic version of the report may contact Trade Malta on info@trademalta.org.