Malta has registered a trade deficit of €171.9 million in September compared €234.4 million in the same month in 2017.

The National Statistics Office said that according to provisional data for international trade both imports and exports showed drops of €107.9 million and €45.5 million respectively.

The decrease in the value of imports was primarily due to mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€104.4 million), with the same commodity group (€45.5 million) accounting for the main decrease in exports.

January-September 2018

During the first nine months this year, the trade deficit increased by €261.8 million when compared to the same period in 2017, reaching €2,272.6 million.

Imports increased by €51 million while exports decreased by €210.8 million.
Higher imports were mainly due to increases in chemicals (€50 million), mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€40.9 million), and semi-manufactured goods (€31.7 million). These were partly outweighed by a decrease of €86.1 million in machinery and transport equipment.

The main decrease in exports was registered in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€285.1 million), partly outweighed by increases of €48.1 million in miscellaneous manufactured articles and €25.2 million in semi-manufactured goods.

Malta’s trade imports from the European Union reached €3,105 million, or 68.1% of total imports.

There was an increase of €675.9 million in imports from euro area countries when compared to the same period of 2017.

Main increases and decreases in imports were registered from Italy (€181.9 million) and Canada (€145.8 million) respectively.

The main increase in exports was directed to France (€34 million), whereas Egypt (€77.3 million) registered the highest decrease.