Malta Industrial Output Falls for Second Consecutive Month

Malta’s industrial production fell by 6% year-on-year in December 2025, moderating from a downwardly revised 7.8% drop that marked a near four-year low in the previous month. The slowdown was mainly driven by higher output in the manufacturing sector (-7% vs -9%), particularly in the production of rubber, plastic, and other non-metallic mineral products (+20.6%), chemical and pharmaceutical products (+8.5%), and food products and beverages (+1.4%). Across main industrial groupings, gains were recorded in energy production (8.7% vs 3.7%), while activity rebounded in capital goods (4.4% vs -7.1%). Production also declined at a slower pace for intermediate goods (-8.8% versus -11.8%). On the other hand, activity fell further in consumer non-durable goods (-6.9% versus -2.8%), consumer goods (-6.9% versus -1.2%), and consumer durable goods (-5.6% versus 5.6%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial activity grew by 4.2% in December, recovering from a 0.1% fall in November.

Malta’s industrial production declined 8.2% year-on-year in November 2025, following a revised 0.2% gain in the previous month. This was the steepest fall since April 2022, weighed down by lower output in the manufacturing sector (-9%), particularly in the production of computer, electronic and optical products, and motor vehicles (-29.5%), food and beverages (-7.8%), and other manufacturing (-4.1%). Across main industrial groupings, decreases were seen in intermediate goods (-12% vs 14% in October), capital goods (-6.8% vs -8.1%), and consumer goods (-2.6% vs 0%), while energy production picked up (3.7% vs 3.2%). Excluding energy, industrial output dropped 8.7%, after showing no growth in October. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial activity fell by 1.3% in November, following a revised 0.1% rise in October.

Malta’s industrial production fell 1.0% year-on-year in October 2025, reversing a downwardly revised 1.8% decline in the previous month and marking the second straight monthly contraction. Manufacturing output remained in negative territory but the pace of decline eased (-1.4% vs -2.8% in September), with notable drops in other manufacturing (-11.7%), rubber and other non-metallic mineral products (-3.6%) and food and beverage production (-2.9%). Across the main industrial groupings, output continued to fall for capital goods (-8.0% vs -11.8%) and consumer goods (-0.1% vs -7.2%), while intermediate goods posted faster growth (10.2% vs 7.1%). Excluding energy, industrial production dropped 1.2%, following a 2.7% decline in the prior month. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial activity edged up 0.5% in October, rebounding from a revised 2.3% fall in September.