Preliminary statistics show that Malta registered a trade deficit of €303.2million in October 2018, compared to a trade deficit of €175.5 million in the corresponding month of 2017.
Provisional data for international trade show that a trade deficit of €303.2 million was registered in October,compared to a deficit of €175.5 million in the corresponding month of 2017. Imports increased by €7.3 million,while exports show a decrease of €120.5 million. The increase in the value of imports was primarily due to mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€105.3 million), partly outweighed by a decrease of€109.6 million in machinery and transport equipment. On the exports side, mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€106.1 million) accounted for the main decrease in the value of exports, partly outweighed by an increase of €15.2 million in miscellaneous manufactured articles.
January-October 2018
During the first ten months of this year, the trade deficit increased by €422.8 million when compared to the corresponding period of 2017, reaching €2,606.7 million. Imports increased by €95.5 million while exports decreased by €327.4 million . Higher imports were mainly due to increases in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€158.0 million), chemicals (€52.5 million), and semi-manufactured goods (€40.2 million).These were partly outweighed by a decrease of €183.0 million in machinery and transport equipment. With regard to exports, the main decrease was registered in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€391.2million), partly outweighed by increases of €65.6 million in miscellaneous manufactured articles and €22.0million in semi-manufactured goods .
Malta’s trade imports from the European Union reached €3,485.6 million, or 67.6 per cent of total imports. There was an increase of €735.3 million in imports from euro area countries when compared to the same period of 2017. Main increases and decreases in imports were registered from Italy (€198.3 million) and Canada (€145.8million) respectively. The main increase in exports was directed to Netherlands (€39.3 million), whereas Italy(€34.5 million) registered the highest decrease.
