Provisional data for international trade show that the visible trade gap in September 2008 stood at €159.6 million, up by €74.5 million compared to the same month last year. There was an increase in imports of €64.0 million and a decrease in exports of €10.5 million.

The increase in imports was due to fuels and lubricants, capital goods and consumer goods. Machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, beverages and tobacco and miscellaneous manufactured articles accounted for the decrease in exports during September when compared to the same month last year.

During the first nine months this year, the visible trade gap widened by €134.2 million, to stand at €1,091.9 million. This came about because of a decrease of €9.4 million in imports and a decrease of €143.5 million in exports.

The decrease in imports was mainly due to machinery and transport equipment. Decreases were also registered in miscellaneous manufactured articles, chemicals and miscellaneous transactions and commodities. During this period the decrease in exports was primarily due to machinery and transport equipment.

Other decreases were registered in miscellaneous manufactured articles and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials.

An analysis of the total trade balance by commodity group, indicates that the deterioration in the balance for the first nine months was mainly due to mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, which widened the trade gap by €145.4 million.

The bulk of Malta’s trade flows and consequent trade deficit continued to be directed towards the European Union during the period under review.

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