Malta’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 296 million in August 2026 from EUR 372 million in the same month a year earlier. This marked the lowest deficit since March, as exports advanced 19.0% year-on-year to EUR 481.4 million, lifted by significant gains in shipments of food (+20.7%), crude materials (+111.1%), mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (+43.7%), and machinery and transport equipment (+26.8%). Meanwhile, imports rose by 0.1% to EUR 777.1 million, driven largely by higher purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (+43.9%) and miscellaneous manufactured articles (+12.2%). These gains offset declines in imports of food (-15.0%), animal and vegetable oils and fats (-33.3%), and chemicals (-32.7%). In the January–August period, Malta recorded a trade deficit of EUR 2,838 million, down from EUR 3,462 million a year earlier.