Malta’s merchandise trade deficit in April narrowed from a year ago, as exports increased and imports decreased, a report from the National Statistics Office of Malta showed Friday.
The visible trade deficit came in at EUR 93.9 million in April, narrower than the EUR 128.7 million deficit recorded in the corresponding month of the previous year.
Imports decreased to EUR 438.7 million from EUR 456.6 million in the preceding year period. This was driven primarily due to lower mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials. Other decreases were recorded for all commodity groups except for machinery and transport equipment.
Meanwhile, exports rose EUR 16.9 million to EUR 344.8 million in April. This was driven primarily by increases in food, machinery and transport equipment, miscellaneous manufactured articles, crude materials, and semi-manufactured goods.
However, overall trade deficit during the January to April period widened to EUR 769.0 million from EUR 503.8 million in the corresponding period of 2014. Imports rose by EUR 164.7 million, while exports registered a decline of EUR 100.5 million.
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