Malta’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 296 million in August 2026 from EUR 372 million in the same month a year earlier. This marked the lowest deficit since March, as exports advanced 19.0% year-on-year to EUR 481.4 million, lifted by significant gains in shipments of food (+20.7%), crude materials (+111.1%), mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (+43.7%), and machinery and transport equipment (+26.8%). Meanwhile, imports rose by 0.1% to EUR 777.1 million, driven largely by higher purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (+43.9%) and miscellaneous manufactured articles (+12.2%). These gains offset declines in imports of food (-15.0%), animal and vegetable oils and fats (-33.3%), and chemicals (-32.7%). In the January–August period, Malta recorded a trade deficit of EUR 2,838 million, down from EUR 3,462 million a year earlier. source: National Statistics Office, Malta

Malta recorded a trade deficit of 295.70 EUR Million in August of 2026. Balance of Trade in Malta averaged -172.99 EUR Million from 1996 until 2026, reaching an all time high of -3.40 EUR Million in November of 2020 and a record low of -993.10 EUR Million 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 November of 2026.

Malta recorded a trade deficit of 295.70 EUR Million in August of 2026. Balance of Trade in Malta is expected to be -264.90 EUR Million 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 -290.10 EUR Million in 2027 and -316.50 EUR Million in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-09 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Jul €-525M €-429M €-465.0M
2026-10-12 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Aug €-296M €-525M €-470.0M
2026-11-09 10:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Sep €-296M €-341.0M



Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Exports 481.40 486.30 EUR Million Aug 2026
Imports 777.10 1010.90 EUR Million Aug 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -295.70 -524.70 EUR Million Aug 2026
Tourist Arrivals 539655.00 489494.00 Aug 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
-295.70 -524.70 -3.40 -993.10 1996 - 2026 EUR Million Monthly
Current Prices, NSA

News Stream
Malta Trade Deficit Narrows to 5-Month Low
Malta’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 296 million in August 2026 from EUR 372 million in the same month a year earlier. This marked the lowest deficit since March, as exports advanced 19.0% year-on-year to EUR 481.4 million, lifted by significant gains in shipments of food (+20.7%), crude materials (+111.1%), mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (+43.7%), and machinery and transport equipment (+26.8%). Meanwhile, imports rose by 0.1% to EUR 777.1 million, driven largely by higher purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (+43.9%) and miscellaneous manufactured articles (+12.2%). These gains offset declines in imports of food (-15.0%), animal and vegetable oils and fats (-33.3%), and chemicals (-32.7%). In the January–August period, Malta recorded a trade deficit of EUR 2,838 million, down from EUR 3,462 million a year earlier.
2026-10-12
Malta Trade Deficit Largest in a Year
Malta’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 525 million in July 2026 from EUR 993 million a year earlier, although it was the largest deficit since July 2025. Exports surged 37.1% year-on-year to EUR 486 million, with notably higher shipments of chemicals (135%), machinery and transport equipment (23.6%), food (76.7%), miscellaneous manufactured articles (72.8%), and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (7.4%). Meanwhile, imports plunged 25.0% to EUR 1,011 million, due to declines in purchases of machinery and transport (-38.7%), food (-25.6%), semi-manufactured goods (-14.0%), chemicals (-4.4%), and animal and vegetable oils and fats (-14.8%). In the first seven months of the year, the deficit decreased to EUR 2,479 million, compared with EUR 3,087 million a year earlier.
2026-09-09
Malta Trade Deficit Highest Since July 2025
Malta’s trade deficit narrowed to €408 million in June 2026 from an upwardly revised €472.4 million a year earlier, although marking the largest deficit since July 2025. Exports surged 17.9%, driven mainly by higher shipments of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (34.69%) and machinery and transport equipment (32.05%), partly offset by a 23.56% decline in chemicals. Meanwhile, imports edged up 0.4%, supported by increased purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (10.10%), which offset lower imports of machinery and transport equipment (-3.97%), chemicals (-7.46%) and semi-manufactured goods (-5.52%). In the second quarter of 2026, the trade deficit widened to €1,195.8 million from €714.3 million in Q1. In the first half of 2026, however, the deficit narrowed sharply to €177.4 million from €1,910.2 million a year earlier.
2026-08-10