Preliminary figures show that the visible trade gap widened by €62.3 million in April 2008 when compared to April 2007.

Provisional data for international trade show that the visible trade gap in April 2008 stood at €156.9 million, up by €62.3 million from the same month last year. There was an increase in imports of €40.4 million and a decrease in exports of €11.9 million. The increase in imports was mainly due to mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials. Other increases were recorded in capital goods and consumer goods. Machinery and transport equipment, chemicals and beverages and tobacco accounted for the decrease in exports during April 2008 when compared to the same month last year.

During the first four months this year, the visible trade gap widened by €108.4 million to stand at €447.3 million. This came about because of an increase of €84.5 million in imports during this period, and a decrease of €23.9 million in exports.

Higher import values were mainly registered for mineral fuels and lubricants, food, chemicals and beverages and tobacco. During this period the decrease in exports was generated primarily by machinery and transport equipment. Other decreases were registered in miscellaneous manufactured articles and beverages and tobacco.

An analysis of the total trade balance by commodity group indicates that the deterioration in the balance for the first four months of 2008 was mainly due to mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, and machinery and transport equipment.

The bulk of Malta’s trade flows and consequent trade deficit continued to be directed towards the European Union during the first four months of 2008.

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