Malta – a maritime leader in the European Union. On course for a Maritime Innovation Center

Malta became the largest ship register in Europe in 2025 and aims to consolidate this position in 2026. Already in the first half of last year, over 10,000 ships flew the Maltese flag, propelling the island nation to sixth place in the world in terms of the number of commercial vessels. Malta leads the world in the number of registered superyachts. Malta’s maritime economy also relies on the strength of its container port, tourism, fisheries, and aquaculture. These are the pillars of Malta’s maritime development strategy.

Malta’s maritime strategy aims to transform Malta into a Maritime Centre of Excellence by focusing on innovation, sustainability, the large-scale implementation of information technology, and skills development. The efforts of the government and the Malta Maritime Forum (MMF) go far beyond the financial use of ship registrations. In this area, Malta has held a leading position in the EU for several years.

Malta’s registry ranks first in the EU in 2025. Source: UNCTAD. Graphics: VoronoiApp.com

The strategy emphasizes participation in projects financing blue technologies, participation in the use of alternative fuels, and cooperation with shipowners and superyacht producers. Malta’s Vision 2050 aims to leverage EU funds and the country’s central location in the Mediterranean.

Around 17,700 people are directly involved in Malta’s maritime economy. Maritime industries generate revenues of approximately €720 million. Before the Covid-19 crisis, Malta’s maritime economy employed 33,000 people, accounting for 13.1% of national employment. Maritime business, primarily in ports and tourism, fisheries, and ship services, generated revenues of €1.1 billion, representing 8.4% of the country’s gross value added.

Ships in Malta’s ports 2018-2026. Source: CEICData.com, Marine Traffic

Register, Tourists, and Ports

The Maltese Register’s activities are visible worldwide, as a Maltese-flagged vessel can be found in virtually all commercial ports and major marinas. However, the Maltese maritime economy is dominated by all forms of maritime tourism. Serving maritime tourists and those using Malta’s coastlines accounts for 50% of the gross value added (GVA) of the national maritime economy and employs 64% of its workforce.

The second largest sector of the country’s maritime economy is port operations. Port and terminal services account for 18% of the gross value added (GVA) of the national maritime economy and employ 10% of the workforce. A significant sector is fishing and aquaculture, which accounts for 13% of the gross value added (GVA) of the national maritime economy and employs 16% of the workforce.

Malta has one container terminal, but it is extremely active and well-positioned in the Mediterranean region. It is a crucial transshipment hub in the central Mediterranean. Operating in the Port of Marsaxlokk, the terminal provides services within the Malta Free Port.

The terminal handles approximately 4.6 million TEU annually. For comparison, Polish ports handle 3.3 million TEU annually. Containers are also handled at the Grand Port (Port of Valletta) by Ro-Ro vessels calling at Malta. Ro-Ro traffic is also very active. It is estimated that approximately 2.6 million tonnes are moved annually in the Ro-Ro system (2023 data).

Tourists Spending Over €250 a Day

Malta has long been a destination for maritime tourists. Passenger traffic here is practically year-round. In the third quarter of 2025 alone, over 350,000 tourists arrived at Valletta on cruise ships. This represents an 8.9% increase compared to the same quarter in 2024, according to the National Statistical Office. The Malta Vision 2050 strategy assumes that tourists staying in Malta will spend up to €285 a day.

In the third quarter of 2025, 140 cruise ships called at the passenger terminal. This represents an increase of 16 compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Total cruise ship passenger traffic in the first three quarters of 2025 exceeded 691,000 passengers, representing a 2.8% increase compared to the same period last year. In the first three quarters of 2025, 294 cruise ships docked in Malta, an increase of 23 passenger ships compared to the same period last year.

Ferry transport is a significant activity in Malta’s maritime transport. In this respect, the port of Mgarr on the island of Gozo is the 12th largest in the EU in terms of passenger numbers (almost 6.6 million annually, 2023). Passengers calling at Mgarr arrive primarily from the port of Cirkewwa via the conventional inter-island ferry service and from the ferry terminals of the Port of Valletta. Transport is provided by a fast inter-island ferry connection. Furthermore, Malta has the only dedicated cruise ship terminal. Modernized over 10 years ago, the Valletta Waterfront Cruise Port is located in the Grand Harbour (Valletta Port).

Fish and Aquaculture

Fish production is a significant part of Malta’s maritime economy. The total value of farmed fish production in Malta by the aquaculture sector reached €191.8 million in 2024, according to the National Statistics Office. This represents a slight decrease of €7.8 million, or 3.9%, compared to 2023. Aquaculture producers’ expenditure amounted to €160.2 million.

Thanks to optimization measures, expenditure decreased by €106.9 million, or 40.0%, compared to 2023. The aquaculture sector’s gross value added increased from a negative balance of €67.4 million in 2023 to a positive balance of €31.6 million in 2024. A similar net result is expected in 2025.

In 2024, fishermen operating in Malta caught a total of 1.8 million kilograms of fish, 93.9% of which were caught by fishermen flying the Maltese flag. Fishermen from Gozo caught 7.6% of the fish delivered to Maltese ports, according to data from the National Statistics Office.

Maltese Maritime Cluster

Malta has centralized its maritime development activities into a single cluster. A number of institutions and organizations have been integrated into the hub, creating a comprehensive network of government organizations and research institutions tasked with monitoring and promoting the development of the blue economy. The Maltese Maritime Cluster includes the Planning Authority (PA), the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), and other institutions involved in maritime development.

The Planning Authority oversees the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Environment and Development, which serves as Malta’s Maritime Spatial Plan and ensures the sustainable use of marine resources. The Environment and Resources Authority is responsible for regulatory activities and environmental protection in Malta. This includes preserving marine biodiversity and eliminating pollution. Overall, it encompasses a broad range of activities aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of Malta’s seas and coastlines.

In its Maritime Economy Development Strategy to 2050, Malta emphasizes a long-term plan for the development of maritime industries integrated with national development. As a maritime nation, it places the maritime and ports sector at the heart of its economic transformation. In line with Malta’s Vision 2050, this traditionally strong sector is the foundation for strategic expansion into international markets. Innovation will be implemented on a large scale here. The plan includes the comprehensive modernization and computerization of Malta’s maritime industries, as well as the development of a banking system that is friendly to foreign contractors. The goal is to strengthen Malta’s role as a leading logistics and maritime hub in the Mediterranean.