Malta’s trade deficit narrowed to €408 million in June 2026, down from an upwardly revised €472.4 million in June 2025, although it was still the largest monthly gap since July 2025. Exports jumped by 17.9%, driven mainly by higher shipments of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (up 34.69%) and machinery and transport equipment (up 32.05%), partly offset by a 23.56% decline in chemicals.
Imports inched up by 0.4%, as increased purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (up 10.10%) outweighed lower imports of machinery and transport equipment (down 3.97%), chemicals (down 7.46%) and semi-manufactured goods (down 5.52%).
In the second quarter of 2026, the trade deficit widened to €1,195.8 million from €714.3 million in the first quarter. Over the first half of 2026 as a whole, however, the deficit narrowed sharply to €177.4 million, compared with €1,910.2 million in the same period a year earlier.
