Malta's trade shortfall decreased to €259.5 million in March 2026 from a revised €298.5 million in the same month a year ago. Exports jumped 9.5% to €404.5 million, mainly reflecting higher shipments of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (25.3%) and chemicals (33.6%). Conversely, imports declined 0.6% to €664.1 million, on lower purchases of machinery and transport equipment (-24.6%) and miscellaneous transactions and commodities (-96.8%), partly offset by a 59.2% jump in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials. source: National Statistics Office, Malta

Malta recorded a trade deficit of 259500 EUR Thousand in March of 2026. Balance of Trade in Malta averaged -164344.80 EUR Thousand from 1996 until 2026, reaching an all time high of -1918.00 EUR Thousand in November of 2023 and a record low of -950138.00 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 May of 2026.

Malta recorded a trade deficit of 259500 EUR Thousand in March of 2026. Balance of Trade in Malta is expected to be -373000.00 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 and -395000.00 EUR Thousand in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-09 10:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Feb €-209.4M €-157.3M €-220.0M
2026-05-11 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Mar €-259.5M €-209.4M € -257.8M
2026-06-09 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Apr €-259.5M



Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Exports 404516.00 324800.00 EUR Thousand Mar 2026
Imports 664053.00 534300.00 EUR Thousand Mar 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -259500.00 -209400.00 EUR Thousand Mar 2026
Tourist Arrivals 321652.00 249139.00 Mar 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
-259500.00 -209400.00 -1918.00 -950138.00 1996 - 2026 EUR Thousand Monthly

News Stream
Malta Trade Gap Shrinks in March
Malta's trade shortfall decreased to €259.5 million in March 2026 from a revised €298.5 million in the same month a year ago. Exports jumped 9.5% to €404.5 million, mainly reflecting higher shipments of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (25.3%) and chemicals (33.6%). Conversely, imports declined 0.6% to €664.1 million, on lower purchases of machinery and transport equipment (-24.6%) and miscellaneous transactions and commodities (-96.8%), partly offset by a 59.2% jump in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials.
2026-05-11
Malta Trade Deficit Narrows in February
Malta’s trade deficit narrowed to €209.4 million in February 2026 from €225 million in the same month a year earlier. Exports fell 11% year-on-year to €324.8 million, weighed down by lower sales of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€25.3 million) and miscellaneous transactions and commodities (€24.4 million), partly offset by an increase in food (€12.2 million). Turkey registered the largest decrease of exports (€42.2 million), partly offset by the highest increase recorded in Egypt (€12.6 million). Meanwhile, imports fell at a slower pace of 9.4% to €534.3 million, primarily due to lower purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€30.1 million), chemicals (€19.6 million), and miscellaneous transactions and commodities (€8.8 million). Imports from Italy registered the largest drop (€57.1 million), while imports rose in the Netherlands (€48.7 million). On a cumulative basis, the trade deficit narrowed to €401.4 million from €546.3 million.
2026-04-09
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