Malta Industrial Output Falls in February

Industrial production in Malta fell 3.6% year-on-year in March 2026, reversing a revised 0.8% gain in the previous month. Manufacturing output declined (-4.7% vs 0.3% in February), weighed down by food products and beverages (-11.9%), computer, electronic and optical products and motor vehicles (-11.4%), and other manufacturing (-8.8%). Among industrial groupings, output declined in intermediate goods (-0.1% vs 11.3%) and fell further in consumer goods (-4.8% vs -3.8%) and non-durable goods (-5.7% vs -3.2%), while it contracted at a softer pace for capital goods (-2.8% vs -4.6%). In contrast, production growth strengthened in energy (18.1% vs 11.4%) and rebounded for durable goods (6% vs -9.3%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial activity dropped 1.4% in March.

Industrial production in Malta fell 3.4% year-on-year in February 2026, reversing from an upwardly revised 7.5% increase in the previous month. Manufacturing output declined (-4.3% vs 7.2% in January), accounting for 13% of the overall downturn, particularly in computer, electronic and optical products, and motor vehicles (-11.5%), and wood, paper products and printing (-1.4%). Across main industrial groupings, output continued to decline in capital goods (-11.8% vs -7.7%), consumer goods (-3.7% vs -0.7%), and non-durable consumer goods (-3.4% vs -0.9%), while growth reversed in consumer durable goods (-6.1% vs 0.8%). Production growth also slowed in energy (11.4% vs 15.6%), and intermediate goods (1.4% vs 22.6%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial activity dropped by 6% in February.

Industrial production in Malta grew by 5.7% year-on-year in January 2026, rebounding from an upwardly revised 6.5% decline in the previous month. This marked the first month of growth since October 2025 and the fastest in seven months, driven by higher output in the manufacturing sector (5.1% vs -7.4% in December), particularly in computer, electronic and optical products and motor vehicles (38.0%), followed by wood, paper products and printing (17.1%), and chemical and pharmaceutical products (9.1%). Across main industrial groupings, output accelerated for energy (15.6% vs 8.6%) and intermediate goods (23.7% vs -9.9%), while it declined for capital goods (-17% vs -2.5%), consumer goods (-0.8% vs -3.6%), and consumer non-durable goods (-1% vs -4.8%). Production growth also slowed for consumer durable goods (0.5% vs 7%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial activity rose by 2.5% in January, easing from a downwardly revised 3.6% gain in December.