Tag: Malta
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Oil trading keeps obfuscating export and trade figures
The NSO’s headline published earlier today about rising exports and foreign trade keeps being obfuscated by oil trading and bunkering operations. Malta’s exports increased by 19% in August compared with the same month last year. However, much of this headline growth was driven by mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, raising questions about how much…
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Property transactions take a breather as quantity and value of transactions go down in September
According to the latest NSO statistics, the property market in Malta took a breather in September as the quantity and value of transactions went down, going down for the first time in June, following a very strong Summer of property sales. A total of 974 final deeds of sale were registered in September, down by…
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Alkagesta keeps its Russian oil at the port of Marmara (Opet Terminal) following investigations
Following a series of investigations that started by the United Nations Security Council on oil sanctions busting by Alkagesta, we extensively investigated Alkagesta’s activity in Malta. Alkagesta is a company from Azerbaijan, created by ex-Socar traders, that became Malta’s largest oil bunkerer at the Freeport terminal of Evos. Alkagesta has been listed as a sanctions…
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Malta edged out by Greece in European rugby league clash
Malta suffered a narrow 20–18 home defeat to Greece on Saturday night, leaving their European Championship Group C fate dependent on next weekend’s meeting between Greece and Germany in Chania, Crete. Josh Gatt’s late converted try brought Malta within two points, but the Knights ran out of time as Greece held on to move top…
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Bugeja strike gives Malta victory over Luxembourg
Haley Bugeja scored the only goal as Malta defeated Luxembourg 1–0 in a women’s international friendly at the Centenary Stadium on Friday night. The forward struck in the 58th minute to secure victory for Manuela Tesse’s side in a match which saw both teams have penalties saved. Luxembourg had an opportunity to take the lead…
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Doing the opposite of what it promised: Labour strikes deal for Chinese mass tourism
Labour has literally done the opposite of what it is pledging to do with regard to tourism and has just signed a deal with Trip.com to promote Malta as a tourist destination in China. The agreement, announced yesterday by the DOI, was signed by the Malta Tourism Authority. The MTA sponsors marketing and advertising campaigns…
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Industrial production edges higher but only because energy output boosts figures
Malta’s industrial production increased by 5.1% in August compared with the same month last year, although monthly output remained virtually unchanged, rising by just 0.1%, according to the latest statistics released by the National Statistics Office. The annual increase in the industrial production figure is driven by a sharp rise in energy production, which increased…
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Malta gains visibility and strengthens its position in global tourism
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is holding its 26th Global Summit in Malta from 7 to 9 October. The event brings together international leaders and prominent figures from the tourism industry to discuss the sector’s main challenges and future opportunities. With figures such as former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar, former Canadian…
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Malta calls for Mediterranean to become an EU priority at MED9 summit
Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela attended the MED9 summit in Split, Croatia, on Wednesday, where he stressed the importance of making the Mediterranean a priority for the European Union. MED9 periodically brings together the leaders of nine EU countries: Malta, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, France and Slovenia. The meetings mainly aim to address…
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The Sicilians denied the Mafia existed until the term “Mafia” was codified into Law
The speech in Parliament by Prime Minister Robert Abela on Monday is very significant historically, but not in a good sense. The Prime Minister repeated the historical fallacy of denying the existence of the Mafia: a denial that is functional and serves the Mafia itself, which wants to pretend and assume that it does not…
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Malta requests relief from the EU Commission from the EU Emissions Trading Systems
Yesterday, during the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs, the Labour government and the Nationalist Opposition agreed that the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) hits Malta’s sea links harder than those of mainland states, and both have asked Brussels for relief. Foreign Affairs Minister Chris Fearne has stated that this issue is existential for us. They…
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Retail trade goes down by 1.9% in Malta in August despite record tourist arrivals
Malta’s retail trade declined by 1.9% in August compared with the previous month, according to Eurostat figures , despite the country recording another record month for tourist arrivals. Eurostat said Malta recorded the largest monthly decline in retail trade among the EU member states for which data was available after Luxembourg, with Latvia registering a…