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The twenty imports Malta is best placed to replace.

Malta imported USD 13bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 4.6bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 427mthe twenty, imported in 2024
21products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
276products Malta already exports well
109product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Malta already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Malta would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Malta does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Vessels: (other than sailboats and motorboats), for pleasure or sports, other than inflatable, of a length exceeding...HS 890399

    Comes fromPoland 82%, 19 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVessels: light, fire-floats, floating cranes and other vessels, the... (exports USD 219m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 227k
    Countries that export it well29

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 33m, top 27 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 25 per cent (2); Poland supplies 82 per cent (2).

    USD 33mup 173% on 2022
  2. 2

    Food preparations: bakers' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty...HS 190590

    Comes fromItaly 55%, 67 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFood preparations: of flour, meal, starch, malt extract or milk... (exports USD 21m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 4m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 15m
    Countries that export it well47

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 49m, top 16 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 26 per cent (1); Italy supplies 55 per cent (1).

    USD 49mup 38% on 2022
  3. 3

    Cigarettes: containing tobaccoHS 240220

    Comes fromGreece 44%, 18 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 23k
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 39m, top 19 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 42 per cent (1); Greece supplies 44 per cent (1).

    USD 39mup 8% on 2022
  4. 4

    Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially colouredHS 252329

    Comes fromItaly 54%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVermiculite, perlite and chlorites: unexpanded (exports USD 151k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1k
    Countries that export it well54

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 38m, top 20 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 42 per cent (1); Italy supplies 54 per cent (1).

    USD 38mup 6% on 2022
  5. 5

    Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves...HS 721420

    Comes fromItaly 81%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFerrous waste and scrap: n.e.c. in heading no. 7204 (exports USD 25m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 24m, top 39 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 46 per cent (1); Italy supplies 81 per cent (2).

    USD 24mdown 44% on 2022
  6. 6

    Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectorsHS 854449

    Comes fromTurkey 53%, 50 source countries
    Nearest export strengthElectronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether... (exports USD 977m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 26m
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 26m, top 32 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 47 per cent (1); Turkey supplies 53 per cent (1).

    USD 26mup 10% on 2022
  7. 7

    Meat preparations: sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal, blood or insects, and food preparations based...HS 160100

    Comes fromItaly 67%, 23 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPaints and varnishes: based on acrylic or vinyl polymers, dispersed...
    Exports of this lineUSD 78k
    Countries that export it well37

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 13m, top 78 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 33 per cent (1); Italy supplies 67 per cent (2).

    USD 13mup 33% on 2022
  8. 8

    Cosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for the care of the skin (excluding medicaments...HS 330499

    Comes fromFrance 26%, 97 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCosmetic and toilet preparations: powders, whether or not compressed... (exports USD 3m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 5m
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 32m, top 28 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 28 per cent (1).

    USD 32mup 55% on 2022
  9. 9

    Dog or cat food: put up for retail sale, used in animal feedingHS 230910

    Comes fromItaly 39%, 41 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSugars: lactose and lactose syrup, containing by weight less than...
    Exports of this lineUSD 3m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 16m
    Countries that export it well26

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 25m, top 38 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 43 per cent (1).

    USD 25mup 13% on 2022
  10. 10

    Meat preparations: of the poultry of heading no. 0105, (i.e. of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus)HS 160232

    Comes fromNetherlands 32%, 23 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCereal grains: rolled or flaked, other than oats
    Exports of this lineUSD 7k
    Countries that export it well27

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 21m, top 48 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1).

    USD 21mup 19% on 2022
  11. 11

    Washing and cleaning preparations: powders, flakes and granules, surface-active, whether or not containing soap...HS 340250

    Comes fromItaly 51%, 44 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPlastics: stoppers, lids, caps and other closures, for the...
    Exports of this lineUSD 158k
    Countries that export it well39

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 18m, top 52 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 39 per cent (1); Italy supplies 51 per cent (1).

    USD 18mup 27% on 2022
  12. 12

    WhiskiesHS 220830

    Comes fromUnited Kingdom 47%, 37 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWaters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or... (exports USD 9m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 3m
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 15m, top 60 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 35 per cent (1); United Kingdom supplies 47 per cent (1).

    USD 15mup 33% on 2022
  13. 13

    Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa: n.e.c. in chapter 18HS 180690

    Comes fromItaly 59%, 58 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPaper and paperboard: labels or all kinds, printed
    Exports of this lineUSD 175k
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 15m, top 61 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 42 per cent (1); Italy supplies 59 per cent (1).

    USD 15mup 30% on 2022
  14. 14

    Plastics: carboys, bottles, flasks and similar articles, for the conveyance or packing of goodsHS 392330

    Comes fromTurkey 47%, 52 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPlastics: other articles n.e.c. in chapter 39 (exports USD 48m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 3m
    Countries that export it well47

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 14m, top 74 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 39 per cent (1); Turkey supplies 47 per cent (1).

    USD 14mup 8% on 2022
  15. 15

    Waters: mineral and aerated, including natural or artificial, (not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter...HS 220110

    Comes fromItaly 58%, 29 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWaters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or... (exports USD 9m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 34k
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 11m, top 94 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1); Italy supplies 58 per cent (1).

    USD 11mup 10% on 2022
  16. 16

    Vehicle parts and accessories: n.e.c. in heading no. 8708HS 870899

    Comes fromItaly 30%, 66 source countries
    Nearest export strengthRubber: vulcanised (other than hard rubber), articles n.e.c. in...
    Exports of this lineUSD 10m
    Countries that export it well28

    Score 1 of 8: import bill USD 15m, top 65 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 48 per cent (1).

    USD 15mdown 17% on 2022
  17. 17

    Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, n.e.c. in heading 7308HS 730890

    Comes fromTurkey 38%, 43 source countries
    Nearest export strengthRadiators and parts thereof: for central heating, (not electrically... (exports USD 1m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 255k
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 1 of 8: import bill USD 14m, top 70 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 45 per cent (1).

    USD 14mup 14% on 2022
  18. 18

    Non-alcoholic beverages: other than non-alcoholic beer, n.e.c. in item no. 2202.10, not including fruit, nut or...HS 220299

    Comes fromItaly 30%, 44 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWaters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or... (exports USD 9m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 135k
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 1 of 8: import bill USD 14m, top 73 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 29 per cent (1).

    USD 14mup 36% on 2022
  19. 19

    Iron or steel: articles n.e.c. in heading 7326HS 732690

    Comes fromGermany 23%, 73 source countries
    Nearest export strengthRadiators and parts thereof: for central heating, (not electrically... (exports USD 1m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 964k
    Countries that export it well28

    Score 1 of 8: import bill USD 12m, top 87 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Malta's export strengths in the top 44 per cent (1).

    USD 12mdown 18% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Malta already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Vessels: n.e.c. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and other... imports USD 4.1bn, exports USD 43m, top source China 68%
  • Aeroplanes and other aircraft, except unmanned: of an unladen weight exceeding... imports USD 761m, exports USD 246m, top source United States 24%
  • Motorboats: (other than outboard motorboats), for pleasure or sports, other... imports USD 501m, exports USD 25m, top source Italy 36%
  • Cruise ships, excursion boats and similar vessels, principally designed for... imports USD 520m, exports USD 88m, top source France 100%
  • Vessels: light, fire-floats, floating cranes and other vessels, the... imports USD 536m, exports USD 219m, top source South Korea 100%
  • Sailboats: (other than inflatable) with or without auxiliary motor, for... imports USD 130m, exports USD 3m, top source United Kingdom 51%
  • Motorboats: (other than outboard motorboats), for pleasure or sports, other... imports USD 100m, exports USD 29m, top source Italy 30%
  • Sailboats: (other than inflatable) with or without auxiliary motor, for... imports USD 64m, exports USD 10m, top source Poland 33%
  • Aircraft and spacecraft: parts of aeroplanes, helicopters or unmanned aircraft... imports USD 64m, exports USD 28m, top source United States 34%
  • Uncoated paper and paperboard (not 4801 or 4803): printing, writing or... imports USD 39m, exports USD 5m, top source Germany 29%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 109 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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