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.

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.

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.