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Imports

Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast. Trade is essential to Malta's economy, because it depends on external sources for much of its food, fuel, raw materials, and manufactured articles, Malta imports considerably more than it exports. Malta is a net importer of mineral fuels and oils, non-electrical machinery, aircraft and other transport equipment, plastic and other semi-manufactured goods, food, drink and tobacco. Thus, Malta has historically had problems with its trade balance, mainly due to the fact that it is a small island that has to import essential commodities such as oil and foodstuffs. 

Malta's economy relies more on imports than exports which makes fuel and raw material the most imported goods. The most imported product is petroleum which represents about 33% of Malta's imports. Passenger boats and cargo ships are the second most imported products in Malta and they occupy 24% of the country's imported goods, as Malta is well known for its tourism facilities.  Malta also imports integrated circuits and chemical products that represent almost 6% each. Also, in smaller percentages, Malta imports: means of transportation, metals, foods, textiles, pharmaceuticals, spacecraft and aircraft spare parts, cars and cars spare parts and also computers.

Due to the fact the Malta is a small country, imports occupy an important part in the country's economy. So we notice that despite a great potential for solar and wind power, Malta produces almost all its electricity from oil, importing 100% of it. Oil bunkering has become a large industry in Malta since the liberalization of petroleum sale in 1996. 

Only 1% of Malta is forested and all of this land is publically owned. As a result of that there is no major forestry industry in Malta. Hereof, industries that require wood and paper products have to import these from outside sources. In a year Malta imports roughly almost 20,000 cubic meters of sawn wood, and over 40,000 tonnes of paper and paperboard.

The majority of farms across the country are small and privately owned, with most of the produce consumed domestically. The primary arable products produced in Malta include: potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, and citrus fruits; pastoral products produced are pork, milk, poultry and eggs. The rest of the consumer products have to be imported to Malta. Thus, Malta's main imports are agricultural products, manufactured goods, and fuel and mining products. Manufactured goods dominate the country's exports - over 90% of all exports. Agricultural products made up a substantial minority at around 16% of imports. Almost 70% of Malta's imports are from the EU.

The most important suppliers for Maltese imports are: South Korea than provides 23% of the country's imports and Italy that supplies 22% of Malta's total imports. In smaller quantities and percentages, Malta imports products from Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and China.

Customs requirements of Malta

Malta Customs Contact Information

Website: https://customs.gov.mt/

E-mail: parcelpost.customs@gov.mt 

Phone: 21236795

Address: Custom House, Lascaris Wharf, Valletta VLT 1920

Malta is an archipelago of coralline limestone, located in the Mediterranean Sea, approximately 93 kilometres south of Sicily, Italy, and nearly 300 km north and northeast of Africa. Malta is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as the European Union and WTO.

Import duty and taxes in Malta are performed acording European Union rules. When importing goods into Malta from outside of the EU whether by a private individual or a commercial entity. The import duty and taxes payable are calculated on the CIF value, i.e. the sum of the value of the imported goods and the cost of shipping and insurance. 

Duty Rates

The duty rates applied to imports into Malta typically range between 0% (for example books) and 17% (for example Wellington Boots).  Some products, such as Laptops, Mobile Phones, Digital cameras and Video Game consoles, are duty free. Certain goods may be subject to additional duties depending on the country of manufacture, for example Bicycles made in China carry an additional (anti dumping) duty of 48.5%.

VAT Rates

The standard VAT rate for importing items into Malta is 18%, with certain products, for example books, attracting VAT at the reduced rate of 5%. VAT is calculated on the value of the goods, plus the international shipping costs and insurance, plus any import duty due. 

Minimum thresholds

For imports into Malta, there are minimum thresholds below which duty and VAT are waived.

Duty is not charged if:
- the FOB value, i.e. the value of the goods excluding shipping and insurance cost, does not exceed €150 

VAT is not charged if:
- the FOB value, i.e. the value of the goods excluding shipping and insurance cost, does not exceed €22

Other taxes and customs fees

Excise duty is payable on for example tobacco and alcohol.

Additional customs fees can be charged to cover the expense of performing any required examinations, verification and or testing of the imported goods.

Sources:  

https://customs.gov.mt/ 

http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/MT-Malta-customs-currency-airport-tax-regulations-summary.htm 

http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/MT-Malta-customs-currency-airport-tax-regulations-details.htm 

https://www.iamovers.org/files/newimages/member/shippers/malta.pdf