Malta Balance of Trade

Last Release

Feb 28, 2025

Actual

-183,487

Units In

EUR Thousand

-296,853

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

May 12, 2025

Time to Release

30 Days 7 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
301,100 Sep 2024	-878,623 Jul 2022	-151,557.06 EUR Thousand	1996-2025	N/A

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.

Latest Updates

Malta's trade deficit narrowed to EUR 183.5 million in February 2025 from EUR 195.4 million in the corresponding month of the previous year. Imports plunged by 21% year-on-year to EUR 534.6 million, mainly dragged down by lower purchases of industrial supplies (-15.7%), capital goods and others (-48%), consumer goods (-4.7%), and fuels and lubricants (-26.3%). Meanwhile, exports slumped by 26.6% from a year earlier to EUR 351.1 million, weighed down by decreased sales of capital goods and others (-86%) and consumer goods (-16%). Conversely, sales increased for industrial supplies (11.9%) and fuels and lubricants (1.26%).