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.

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.

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.