Provisional data for international trade show that the visible trade gap in September 2009 stood at €54.5 million, down by €79.7 million compared to the corresponding month last year. There was a drop in imports of €119.0 million and a decrease in exports of €39.3 million. The decrease in imports was due to fuels and lubricants, industrial supplies and capital goods and others. Machinery and transport equipment accounted for the main decline in exports.

During the first nine months this year, the visible trade gap narrowed by €200.0 million, to stand at €895.7 million. This came about because of a decrease of €546.3 million in imports and a decrease of €346.3 million in exports. The decline in imports was mainly due to mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials.

Decreases were also registered in machinery and transport equipment, food, miscellaneous manufactured articles, and semi-manufactured goods. During this period the drop in exports was primarily due to machinery and transport equipment. Other decreases were registered in miscellaneous manufactured articles, chemicals, semi-manufactured goods and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials.

The bulk of Malta’s trade flows and consequent trade deficit continued to be directed towards the European Union during the first nine months this year.

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