Summary
- China → Malta
- $3.3billion
- Malta → China
- $299million
- China’s balance
- $3billion
Balance
China’s trade balance with Malta
Trade between China and Malta grew 63.5-fold since 1995
USD billions (current). China’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).
- Exports 3.3
- Imports 0.3
- Balance +3
Source: CEPII BACI
Show the numbers
| Year | Exports | Imports | Trade balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | $33 million | $24 million | $9 million |
| 1996 | $39 million | $23 million | $15 million |
| 1997 | $36 million | $1 million | $35 million |
| 1998 | $38 million | $3 million | $35 million |
| 1999 | $62 million | $10 million | $52 million |
| 2000 | $91 million | $14 million | $77 million |
| 2001 | $63 million | $71 million | -$7 million |
| 2002 | $123 million | $179 million | -$56 million |
| 2003 | $134 million | $233 million | -$99 million |
| 2004 | $288 million | $270 million | $19 million |
| 2005 | $302 million | $218 million | $84 million |
| 2006 | $519 million | $379 million | $140 million |
| 2007 | $312 million | $276 million | $36 million |
| 2008 | $891 million | $461 million | $430 million |
| 2009 | $1.1 billion | $316 million | $748 million |
| 2010 | $1.5 billion | $380 million | $1.2 billion |
| 2011 | $1.6 billion | $563 million | $1 billion |
| 2012 | $1.4 billion | $577 million | $777 million |
| 2013 | $1.3 billion | $127 million | $1.1 billion |
| 2014 | $2.3 billion | $406 million | $1.8 billion |
| 2015 | $1.8 billion | $337 million | $1.4 billion |
| 2016 | $1.2 billion | $172 million | $1.1 billion |
| 2017 | $1.8 billion | $315 million | $1.5 billion |
| 2018 | $913 million | $246 million | $666 million |
| 2019 | $501 million | $143 million | $359 million |
| 2020 | $683 million | $264 million | $419 million |
| 2021 | $1.5 billion | $372 million | $1.1 billion |
| 2022 | $1.6 billion | $385 million | $1.2 billion |
| 2023 | $1 billion | $417 million | $622 million |
| 2024 | $3.3 billion | $299 million | $3 billion |
What they sell each other
What China sells to Malta
The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.
What Malta sells to China
The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.
How it travels
The estimated sea route between Shanghai and Valletta is 14,105 nautical miles (26,123 km) long: ≈ 32.5–42 days at sea (at 18 and 14 knots).
Because of the 2024 disruptions, traffic is split: 85% via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, the Cape of Good Hope and the Strait of Gibraltar (14,105 nautical miles); and 15% via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal (8,333 nautical miles).
Sailing estimate without port calls, waiting or transshipment; not a schedule. One main reference port per country: in large countries it does not represent all of its ports.
Split by transport mode
Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.
How much each matters to the other
Malta was China’s 102nd largest trading partner (0.1% of its trade), and China was Malta’s largest (16%).
- Malta in China’s trade
- 0.1%
- Malta’s rank among China’s partners
- 102nd
- China in Malta’s trade
- 15.7%
- China’s rank among Malta’s partners
- 1st
Compare with
Other partners of China
Other partners of Malta
Sources and methodology
Sources and licenses
- CEPII BACI · Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0
- World Bank, Global Shipping Traffic Density · CC BY 4.0 (route network derived by this site)
- World Port Index (NGA) · Public domain (US Government work)
- Natural Earth · Public domain
Methodology
Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. The sea route comes from our own network derived from World Bank shipping density (not from nautical charts), between one main reference port per country (World Port Index); days are the distance at 14 and 18 knots, without port calls or waiting. Data up to 2024.