Malta's trade deficit widened slightly to €339.0 million in May 2026 from a revised €326.9 million in the same month a year earlier. Exports jumped 26.6% year-on-year to €516.1 million, driven mainly by higher shipments of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€88.7 million) and machinery and transport equipment (€30.9 million), partly offset by weaker exports of chemicals and chemical products. Meanwhile, imports rose 16.4% to €855.1 million, largely due to increased purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€170.3 million). The rise was partly offset by lower imports of machinery and transport equipment (€30.1 million), chemicals (€8.7 million), and food (€8.6 million). During the January–May period, EU countries accounted for 62.3% of Malta's imports (€2.14 billion) and 32.0% of its exports (€659.5 million). source: National Statistics Office, Malta

Malta recorded a trade deficit of 339000 EUR Thousand in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in Malta averaged -165394.47 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 July of 2026.

Malta recorded a trade deficit of 339000 EUR Thousand in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in Malta is expected to be -338000.00 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
2026-06-09 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Apr €-314.8M €-257.9M €-300.0M
2026-07-10 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
May €-339.0M €-326.9M €-410.0M
2026-08-10 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Jun €-339.0M € -373M



Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Exports 516080.00 399966.00 EUR Thousand May 2026
Imports 855061.00 714780.00 EUR Thousand May 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -338980.00 -314814.00 EUR Thousand May 2026
Tourist Arrivals 457636.00 409403.00 May 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
-338980.00 -314814.00 -1918.00 -950138.00 1996 - 2026 EUR Thousand Monthly

News Stream
MaltaTrade Deficit Widens in May
Malta's trade deficit widened slightly to €339.0 million in May 2026 from a revised €326.9 million in the same month a year earlier. Exports jumped 26.6% year-on-year to €516.1 million, driven mainly by higher shipments of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€88.7 million) and machinery and transport equipment (€30.9 million), partly offset by weaker exports of chemicals and chemical products. Meanwhile, imports rose 16.4% to €855.1 million, largely due to increased purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€170.3 million). The rise was partly offset by lower imports of machinery and transport equipment (€30.1 million), chemicals (€8.7 million), and food (€8.6 million). During the January-May period, EU countries accounted for 62.3% of Malta's imports (€2.14 billion) and 32.0% of its exports (€659.5 million).
2026-07-10
Malta Trade Deficit Narrows in April
Malta’s trade deficit narrowed to €314.8 million in April 2026 from a revised €436.1 million in the corresponding month of the previous year. Exports rose 18.1% year-on-year to €400 million, lifted by higher sales in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€27 million), machinery and transport equipment (€25.8 million), and miscellaneous manufactured articles (€18.7 million), while gains were partially offset by a decrease in chemicals and chemical products (€9.9 million). Germany registered the largest increase in exports (€43.2 million), partly tempered by the largest decrease recorded in Turkey (€45.8 million). Meanwhile, imports fell 7.7% to €714.8 million, driven largely by lower purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (€35.5 million). Imports from Italy registered the largest drop (€94.4 million), while imports grew in the Netherlands (€117.3 million).
2026-06-09
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