Malta's trade deficit narrowed sharply to EUR 157.3 million in January 2026, from EUR 322 million in the same month a year earlier. This marked the smallest trade gap since November 2024. Exports fell 0.5% year-on-year to EUR 378.2 million, dragged down by a drop in sales of fuels and lubricants (-42.1%) despite higher sales of industrial supplies (24.2%), capital goods and others (94.4%), and consumer goods (18.7%). Shipments to Turkey (-54.4%), the Netherlands (-0.9%), and France (-28.8%) saw notable declines. Meanwhile, imports fell at a much faster pace of 23.7% year-on-year to EUR 535.5 million, primarily weighed down by lower purchases across all categories, namely consumer goods (-11%), fuels and lubricants (-40%), capital goods and others (-14.3%), and industrial supplies (-21.1%). Arrivals from Italy (-40%), France (-55.2%), and Germany (-22.2%) recorded significant declines. source: National Statistics Office, Malta

Malta recorded a trade deficit of 157313 EUR Thousand in January of 2026. Balance of Trade in Malta averaged -165212.19 EUR Thousand from 1996 until 2026, reaching an all time high of -3390.00 EUR Thousand in November of 2020 and a record low of -954812.00 EUR Thousand in July of 2025. This page provides - Malta Balance of Trade - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Malta Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Malta recorded a trade deficit of 157313 EUR Thousand in January of 2026. Balance of Trade in Malta is expected to be -257800.00 EUR Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Malta Balance of Trade is projected to trend around -394000.00 EUR Thousand in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-09 10:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Dec €-191.7M €-72.2M € -361.6M
2026-03-13 06:45 AM
Balance of Trade
Jan €-157.3M €-191.7M €-210.0M
2026-04-09 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Feb €-157.3M €-220.0M

Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Exports 378163.00 455875.00 EUR Thousand Jan 2026
Imports 535476.00 647591.00 EUR Thousand Jan 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -157313.00 -191700.00 EUR Thousand Jan 2026
Tourist Arrivals 235772.00 225104.00 Jan 2026


Malta Balance of Trade
Malta enjoys a favorable geographic position and large deposits of limestone, which contribute to the strength its export sector. As an island, Malta produces only around 20% of its food necessities, has limited access to fresh water and lacks energy sources. Due to this mix of factors, the economy of Malta is very dependent on foreign trade. Malta mostly exports electrical machinery, mechanical appliances, fish and crustaceans, pharmaceutical producuts and printed material. On the other hand, Malta is a net importer of mineral fuels and oils, non-electrical machinery, aircraft and other transport equipment, plastic and other semi-manufactured goods, food, drink and tobacco. Malta adopted the Euro in 2008, highlighting the status of the European Union as its most important trading partner, having vast trade flows specifically with Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-157313.00 -191700.00 -3390.00 -954812.00 1996 - 2026 EUR Thousand Monthly

News Stream
Malta Trade Deficit Narrows Sharply
Malta's trade deficit narrowed sharply to EUR 157.3 million in January 2026, from EUR 322 million in the same month a year earlier. This marked the smallest trade gap since November 2024. Exports fell 0.5% year-on-year to EUR 378.2 million, dragged down by a drop in sales of fuels and lubricants (-42.1%) despite higher sales of industrial supplies (24.2%), capital goods and others (94.4%), and consumer goods (18.7%). Shipments to Turkey (-54.4%), the Netherlands (-0.9%), and France (-28.8%) saw notable declines. Meanwhile, imports fell at a much faster pace of 23.7% year-on-year to EUR 535.5 million, primarily weighed down by lower purchases across all categories, namely consumer goods (-11%), fuels and lubricants (-40%), capital goods and others (-14.3%), and industrial supplies (-21.1%). Arrivals from Italy (-40%), France (-55.2%), and Germany (-22.2%) recorded significant declines.
2026-03-13
Malta Trade Deficit Narrows in December
Malta’s trade deficit narrowed to €191.7 million in December 2025 from €368.5 million a year earlier. Exports rose 15.2% year-on-year to €455.9 million, boosted by higher sales of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€59.1 million). Shipments to Turkey recorded the highest increase (€45.5 million), while shipments to the United States of America posted the largest decrease (€110.3 million). Meanwhile, imports declined 15.1% to €647.6 million, weighed down by reduced purchases in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€75.8 million) and machinery and transport equipment (€41.6 million). Imports from Italy registered the largest drop (€172.4 million), while imports from the Netherlands recorded the highest increase (€193 million). For full-year 2025, the trade deficit narrowed by €444.1 million to €4,321.0 million.
2026-02-09
Malta Trade Deficit Narrows to Lowest Since May
Malta’s trade deficit narrowed to €286.0 million in October from €331.9 million a year earlier, marking the lowest reading since May. Imports fell 12.6% year-on-year to €767.1 million, driven by lower purchases of machinery and transport equipment (€94.9 million), mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€38.2 million), and miscellaneous transactions and commodities (€15.7 million). Imports were mainly sourced from the EU (61.5%) and Asia (19.4%), with the Netherlands posting the largest increase (€148.7 million) and Italy the largest decline (€202.5 million). Exports declined 11.8% to €481.1 million, pressured by food (€34.7 million), chemicals (€18.9 million), and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€15.7 million). Shipments to Turkey rose €66.1 million, while exports to the US dropped €115.6 million. Over the first ten months of 2025, the trade deficit narrowed by €267.3 million to €3,965.9 million.
2025-12-10