Provisional data for international trade from the National Statistics Office show that in the first six months this year, the visible trade gap widened by €63.5 million to €603.1 million. This was due to increases in imports and exports of €433.6 million and €370.1 million respectively, when compared to the corresponding period in 2010. The increase in imports was due to capital goods, industrial supplies, fuels and lubricants, and consumer goods. During this period the rise in exports was primarily due to mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials. Other increases were noted in machinery and transport equipment, miscellaneous manufactured articles, semi-manufactured goods, and crude materials. Decreases were recorded in food, miscellaneous transactions and commodities, chemicals, and beverages and tobacco.

The visible trade gap in June stood at €49.6 million, down by €26.4 million when compared to the corresponding month in 2010. There were increases in imports and exports of €41.3 million and €67.7 million respectively. The increase in imports was mainly due to fuels and lubricants, capital goods and industrial supplies, while a decrease was registered in consumer goods. Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials accounted for the main increase in exports when compared to the corresponding month in 2010. Other increases were recorded in semi-manufactured good, machinery and transport equipment, and miscellaneous manufactured articles. Decreases were registered in chemicals, food, crude materials, miscellaneous transactions and commodities, and beverages and tobacco.

The bulk of Malta’s trade flows and consequent trade deficit continued to be directed towards the European Union. Increases were registered in imports from Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Belgium, while drops were recorded from the Netherlands. Exports to the euro area show an increase, mainly to Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, with other increases being recorded for China, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and India.

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