The National Statistics Office has reported this morning that provisional data for international trade show that the visible trade gap in June stood at €232.2 million, up by €159.1 million when compared to the corresponding month last year.

There were increases in imports and exports of €198.6 million and €39.6 million respectively. The increase in the value of imports was primarily due to mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, with other increases registered for machinery and transport equipment, food, beverages and tobacco, crude materials, and miscellaneous manufactured articles. Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, and miscellaneous manufactured articles accounted for the main increase in the value of exports when compared to the corresponding month in 2011. Other increases were recorded in chemicals, beverages and tobacco, food and crude materials.

In the first six months this year, the visible trade gap narrowed by €24.2 million, to stand at €880.5 million. The increase in imports of €448.1 million was mainly due to mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, with an increase being registered also for food, beverages and tobacco, and crude materials.

The rise in the value of exports of €472.3 million, was primarily due to mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials. Other increases were noted in miscellaneous manufactured articles, chemicals, beverages and tobacco, semi-manufactured goods and crude materials.

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, the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium, while there were decreases from France, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Exports to the euro area went up, mainly to France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Other increases in exports were recorded for Turkey (mainly fuels), Libya and the United States of America.

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