I​nternational Trade in Goods: November 2020

11 January 2021 | 1100 hrs | 004/2021

Provisional figures for registered trade in Malta recorded a trade deficit of €38.4 million during November 2020, compared to a deficit of €93.9 million in the corresponding month of 2019.

International Trade in Goods: November 2020

Cut-off date:

4 January 2021

Data in this news release presents all international trade in goods registered up to the indicated cut-off date (refer to methodological notes). Provisional data for registered international trade recorded a trade deficit of €38.4 million during November, compared to a deficit of €93.9 million in the corresponding month of 2019. Both imports and exports registered decreases of €130.4 million and €75.0 million respectively when compared to the same month of 2019 (Table 1). The major decreases in the value of imports were recorded for mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€79.7 million) and food (€32.0 million). On the exports side, the main decrease was registered in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€54.1 million) (Table 2).

January-November 2020

During the first eleven months of 2020, the trade deficit narrowed by €1,578.4 million when compared to the corresponding period of 2019, reaching €2,003.6 million. Both imports and exports decreased by €2,103.2 million and €525.0 million respectively (Table 1). Lower imports were mainly recorded in machinery and transport equipment (€1,290.1 million) and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€592.4 million). On the exports side, mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€403.4 million) and machinery and transport equipment (€88.9 million) accounted for the main decreases (Table 2).

Imports from the European Union reached €2,559.9 million, or 52.7 per cent of total imports. There was a decrease of €514.0 million in imports from euro area countries when compared to the same period in 2019. The main increase and decrease in imports were registered from China (€103.1 million) and the United Kingdom (€977.0 million) respectively. With respect to exports, the main increase was directed to India (€5.4 million), whereas Italy registered the highest decrease (€129.4 million) (Table 3) ■

Chart 1. International Trade in Goods - monthly

1,200

1,000

million€	800
600
	400
	200
	0

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N
2017	2018			2019	2020
			period
		Trade Deficit		Imports		Exports

Compiled by: Trade Statistics Unit	1
Contact us: National Statistics Office, Lascaris, Valletta VLT 2000
T. [phone], E. [e-mail]
https://twitter.com/NSOMALTA/		https://www.facebook.com/nsomalta/

Table 1. Trade in goods by period and broad economic category

						€ million
Broad economic category	2018p	2019p	November		January-November
2019p	2020p	2019p	2020p
Imports	6,279.3	7,417.5	495.6	365.2	6,961.6	4,858.4
Industrial Supplies	1,471.8	1,658.7	133.9	122.6	1,546.5	1,274.5
Primary	125.7	116.5	23.0	4.1	113.5	79.4
Semi-Finished	1,140.7	1,337.6	97.7	111.8	1,239.5	1,103.4
Finished	205.4	204.5	13.3	6.8	193.5	91.7
Capital Goods and Others	1,401.6	2,375.4	56.3	49.0	2,329.3	1,209.0
Consumer Goods	1,471.4	1,552.2	138.9	107.9	1,431.5	1,285.8
Food and Beverages	546.1	558.5	48.5	33.5	516.9	438.5
Durable Goods	497.3	549.8	49.3	38.5	506.6	434.1
Others	428.0	443.9	41.1	35.9	408.0	413.2
Fuels and Lubricants	1,934.5	1,831.2	166.5	85.6	1,654.3	1,089.1
Exports	3,440.9	3,798.0	401.7	326.7	3,379.7	2,854.7
of which:
Exports of Fuels and	986.6	1,128.6	95.3	43.7	1,002.5	628.8
Lubricants
Balance of Trade	-2,838.4	-3,619.4	-93.9	-38.4	-3,582.0	-2,003.6

• Provisional Notes:
• 1. Table 1 is based on the United Nations Statistical Division BEC codes (Broad Economic Categories). Figures for 'Fuels and Lubricants' refer to BEC 0031 and BEC 0032; respectively 'Fuels and lubricants, primary' and 'Fuels and lubricants, processed'.
  2. Totals may not add up due to rounding.
  3. A disaggregation by quarter is available on the excel version of this news release:
     https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/View_by_Unit/Unit_A4/International_Trade/Pages/International-Trade-in-Goods.aspx

major commodity group

Chart 2. Percentage distribution of registered trade in November 2020 by major commodity group

Machinery and Transport Equipment		24.2
28.4
Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and related materials					13.4
23.8
Chemicals							14.4		21.9
Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles							17.2
10.6
Food									19.6
	9.2
Semi-Manufactured Goods	3.1
10.6
Beverages and Tobacco	0.2
2.1
Other Commodities not Mentioned	0.4
0.9

0	5	10	15	20	25	30
					%
				Exports			Imports

Notes:

1. The commodity breakdown is in accordance with the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Rev. 3.
2. "Other Commodities not Mentioned" includes the commodity groups "Miscellaneous Transactions and Commodities", "Animal and Vegetable Oils and Fats" and "Crude Materials".
3. Totals may not add up due to rounding.

2

Table 2. Balance of trade in goods by period and major commodity group

						€ million
Major commodity group	2018p	2019p	November	January-November
2019p	2020p	2019p	2020p
Imports	6,279.3	7,417.5	495.6	365.2	6,961.6	4,858.4
Food	628.7	609.7	65.6	33.6	569.9	478.5
Beverages and Tobacco	109.8	128.3	11.7	7.8	118.0	94.8
Crude Materials	27.4	36.4	2.6	2.4	34.4	27.6
Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and related materials	1,947.0	1,865.1	166.5	86.8	1,688.2	1,095.8
Animal and Vegetable Oils and Fats	9.6	9.7	0.7	0.6	9.0	8.2
Chemicals	603.1	688.0	50.7	52.5	640.1	620.0
Semi-Manufactured Goods	413.8	441.5	36.7	38.6	403.3	405.5
Machinery and Transport Equipment	2,005.0	3,055.8	104.3	103.9	2,964.2	1,674.1
Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles	529.6	578.4	56.5	38.6	530.4	450.3
Miscellaneous Transactions and Commodities	5.2	4.6	0.3	0.4	4.2	3.6
Exports	3,440.9	3,798.0	401.7	326.7	3,379.7	2,854.7
Food	345.3	287.4	52.5	64.2	192.0	193.7
Beverages and Tobacco	44.6	46.9	3.6	0.8	42.6	38.7
Crude Materials	13.3	10.0	1.1	1.2	9.6	10.0
Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and related materials	1,048.6	1,158.3	97.8	43.7	1,032.2	628.8
Animal and Vegetable Oils and Fats	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Chemicals	387.0	523.6	86.8	71.6	472.0	465.2
Semi-Manufactured Goods	153.8	137.8	10.2	10.2	131.9	92.6
Machinery and Transport Equipment	957.1	1,025.5	83.3	78.9	940.0	851.1
Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles	488.8	605.8	66.2	56.1	556.8	573.1
Miscellaneous Transactions and Commodities	2.5	2.6	0.1	0.0	2.5	1.6
Balance of Trade	-2,838.4	-3,619.4	-93.9	-38.4	-3,582.0	-2,003.6
Food	-283.4	-322.3	-13.1	30.5	-377.9	-284.8
Beverages and Tobacco	-65.2	-81.3	-8.1	-7.0	-75.4	-56.2
Crude Materials	-14.1	-26.4	-1.4	-1.2	-24.8	-17.6
Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and related materials	-898.4	-706.8	-68.6	-43.1	-656.0	-467.0
Animal and Vegetable Oils and Fats	-9.6	-9.6	-0.7	-0.6	-9.0	-8.1
Chemicals	-216.1	-164.5	36.1	19.1	-168.1	-154.8
Semi-Manufactured Goods	-260.0	-303.7	-26.5	-28.3	-271.4	-312.9
Machinery and Transport Equipment	-1,047.9	-2,030.2	-21.0	-25.0	-2,024.3	-823.0
Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles	-40.8	27.4	9.7	17.5	26.5	122.8
Miscellaneous Transactions and Commodities	-2.7	-1.9	-0.2	-0.4	-1.7	-2.0

p Provisional

Notes:

1. The commodity breakdown is in accordance with the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Rev. 3.
2. Totals may not add up due to rounding.

3

4				Table 3. Direction of trade in goods by period and by region/country
								€ million
				November						January-November
	Region/Country		2019p			2020p				2019p			2020p
		Arrivals/	Dispatches/	Balance of	Arrivals/	Dispatches/	Balance of	Arrivals/		Dispatches/	Balance of	Arrivals/	Dispatches/	Balance of
		Imports	Exports	Trade	Imports	Exports	Trade	Imports		Exports	Trade	Imports	Exports	Trade
	Europe	371.8	130.0	-241.9	274.8	139.2	-135.5	5,256.0		1,587.8	-3,668.2	3,238.7	1,242.4	-1,996.3
	of which:
	European Union	307.9	120.2	-187.7	219.9	121.9	-98.0	3,283.2		1,471.8	-1,811.5	2,559.9	1,138.4	-1,421.5
	of which:
	euro area	289.9	97.2	-192.7	200.3	81.6	-118.7	2,914.0		1,215.3	-1,698.7	2,400.0	941.0	-1,459.0
	of which:
	Italy	135.5	16.5	-119.0	78.2	19.5	-58.7	1,148.2		274.8	-873.3	890.6	145.4	-745.2
	Spain	16.8	8.2	-8.6	28.2	2.6	-25.6	245.7		84.7	-160.9	231.8	31.6	-200.2
	Germany	34.2	43.5	9.3	25.3	29.6	4.3	477.7		449.1	-28.6	298.9	399.5	100.7
	France	30.4	20.2	-10.3	24.5	19.6	-5.0	421.4		257.3	-164.2	300.7	216.6	-84.1
	Netherlands	14.9	4.3	-10.7	22.8	3.2	-19.6	193.7		64.2	-129.5	161.0	48.3	-112.7
	Greece	38.7	0.6	-38.2	8.5	0.3	-8.2	196.0		19.2	-176.8	86.2	11.7	-74.4
	EFTA Countries	3.0	3.5	0.5	1.8	0.9	-0.8	53.6		25.9	-27.7	37.2	17.1	-20.1
	of which:
	Switzerland	2.8	3.1	0.3	1.7	0.7	-1.0	36.3		22.4	-13.9	28.1	13.3	-14.8
	Other European Countries	60.9	6.3	-54.6	53.1	16.4	-36.7	1,919.1		90.0	-1,829.1	641.7	86.9	-554.8
	of which:
	United Kingdom*	28.1	3.0	-25.1	35.4	13.2	-22.3	1,334.6		53.6	-1,281.0	357.6	42.7	-314.9
	Turkey	23.6	2.6	-21.1	8.8	2.1	-6.8	296.0		28.3	-267.7	172.5	21.9	-150.6
	Asia	63.7	112.7	49.0	62.8	104.5	41.7	947.5		608.2	-339.3	915.4	642.8	-272.6
	of which:	24.6
	China	4.2	-20.4	19.5	5.5	-13.9	250.5		33.7	-216.8	353.6	35.7	-317.9
	India	14.5	1.5	-12.9	14.0	2.9	-11.1	146.0		15.8	-130.3	166.1	21.2	-144.9
	Turkmenistan	-	-	-	5.9	2.3	-3.6	15.1		-	-15.1	20.8	2.3	-18.5
	Japan	5.6	24.6	19.0	3.7	45.7	41.9	51.7		104.6	52.9	46.2	107.4	61.2
	South Korea	2.7	12.3	9.6	3.4	6.4	3.0	38.2		59.6	21.4	46.1	30.7	-15.4
	North and Central America	8.2	12.0	3.8	10.7	12.0	1.3	230.0		168.4	-61.6	259.1	128.1	-131.0
	of which:
	United States of America	7.3	9.8	2.5	10.2	7.7	-2.5	138.2		143.3	5.2	112.0	105.5	-6.5
	Canada	0.6	1.2	0.6	0.5	2.5	2.0	86.4		14.8	-71.6	145.5	14.7	-130.8
	Africa	25.3	44.6	19.3	13.5	31.7	18.2	150.9		378.8	228.0	218.3	353.2	134.9
	of which:
	Algeria	5.2	1.9	-3.3	8.1	1.2	-6.9	13.3		32.0	18.7	109.0	11.1	-97.9
	Australia and Oceania	0.4	0.6	0.1	1.6	0.3	-1.3	113.3		5.6	-107.7	14.4	4.2	-10.2
	South America	3.3	0.2	-3.1	1.6	0.3	-1.3	23.4		24.0	0.6	20.3	12.5	-7.8
	Caribbean and Bahamas Islands	22.9	0.6	-22.3	0.1	0.5	0.4	240.3		6.0	-234.3	192.1	5.4	-186.7
	Ships and Aircraft Stores	0.0	101.2	101.2	0.2	38.2	38.0	0.2		600.8	600.7	0.2	466.2	466.0
	Grand Total	495.6	401.7	-93.9	365.2	326.7	-38.4	6,961.6		3,379.7	-3,582.0	4,858.4	2,854.7	-2,003.6

• Provisional

• For the exclusion/inclusion of the United Kingdom in the European Union computation, refer to methodological note 7 (ii). Notes:
• 1. Ranking is based according to top countries of import for the period under review.
  2. Arrivals/Dispatches relate to registered transactions with EU Member States.
  3. Imports/Exports relate to registered transactions with Non-EU Member States (see methodological notes for country groupings).
  4. Totals may not add up due to rounding.
  5. A full list of countries is available on the excel version of this news release:
     https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/View_by_Unit/Unit_A4/International_Trade/Pages/International-Trade-in-Goods.aspx