VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s international trade deficit widened sharply in June, reversing earlier improvements, as imports from key European partners surged while exports slipped.
Provisional National Statistics Office data show the goods trade gap hitting €426.8 million, up from €350.6 million a year earlier. Imports rose by €67.6 million to €798.5 million, largely on higher machinery and transport equipment purchases (€+51.4m) and mineral fuels (€+36.6m). Exports fell €8.6 million to €371.7 million, with machinery and transport equipment down €26.3 million despite a €21.3 million boost in chemicals. The European Union remained Malta’s dominant trade partner in the first half of 2025, supplying 60% of imports and absorbing 35.3% of exports. The Netherlands posted the largest gain in sales to Malta, up €108.4 million, while imports from Italy dropped by €128.3 million.
From January to June, Malta’s deficit narrowed to €1,926.8 million, €44.9 million less than last year, as imports fell €256.1 million to €4.1 billion. Declines in mineral fuels (€–184.6m) and machinery (€–105.1m) outweighed a €55.2 million chemicals rise. Exports in the same period dropped €211.2 million to €2.18 billion, mainly from machinery (€–203.5m) and fuels (€–65.2m). Turkey emerged as a bright spot, with Maltese sales up €77.9 million, but exports to the US slumped €118.1 million. Excluding volatile categories like fuels and aircraft, Malta posted a narrower June deficit of €170.6 million, helped by lower imports and modest export growth. However, the half-year deficit in this category still widened slightly to €1,407.8 million.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
