Malta’s trade deficit narrowed to €314.8 million in April 2026, down from a revised €436.1 million in the same month a year earlier. Exports increased by 18.1% year-on-year to €400 million, supported by higher sales of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€27 million), machinery and transport equipment (€25.8 million), and miscellaneous manufactured articles (€18.7 million). These gains were partly offset by a decline in exports of chemicals and chemical products (€9.9 million).
Germany recorded the largest increase in Maltese exports (€43.2 million), while exports to Turkey saw the largest decrease (€45.8 million). On the import side, total purchases from abroad fell by 7.7% to €714.8 million, mainly due to lower imports of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€35.5 million). Imports from Italy posted the sharpest decline (€94.4 million), whereas imports from the Netherlands rose by €117.3 million.