Malta registers largest increase in extra-EU exports

Malta has registered the highest increase in exports to non-EU countries in June 2021, when compared to the same month of the previous year, while the EU as a whole generated a €14.8 billion trade surplus.

In June 2021, compared with June 2020, all EU Member States registered a large increase in extra-EU exports, with the highest increases seen in Malta (65.4 per cent), Greece (47.3 per cent) and Cyprus (45.7 per cent).

The figures emerge from a Eurostat publication, which reveals that the first estimate for extra-EU exports of goods in June 2021 was €188.3 billion, up by 22.3 per cent when compared with June 2020 (€154 billion).

Imports from the rest of the world stood at €173.5 billion, up by 29.6 per cent compared with June 2020 (€133.9 billion).

All Member States registered an increase in extra-EU imports in June 2021 compared to June 2020, except Cyprus (-18.7 per cent).

The highest increases were observed in Latvia (88.7 per cent), Slovakia (72.1 per cent) and Estonia (62.4 per cent).

As a result, the EU recorded a €14.8 billion surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in June 2021, compared with a surplus of €20 billion in June 2020.

Meanwhile, intra-EU trade rose to €294.4 bn in June 2021, a 24.6 increase when compared with June 2020.

In the six months comprising January to June 2021, extra-EU exports of goods rose to €1,048.9 billion (an increase of 13.8 per cent compared with January-June 2020), and imports rose to €964.5 bn (an increase of 13.9 per cent compared with January-June 2020).

As a result, the EU recorded a surplus of €84.4 billion, compared with €75.2 billion in January-June 2020.

Intra-EU trade rose to €1,654.2 billion in January-June 2021, an increase of 21.2 per cent compared with January-June 2020.