As at the end of December 2013, the Maltese economy recorded an estimated net international investment position of €1.71 billion, the NSO said.

As at December 2013, total foreign liabilities decreased by €2.78 billion over the position prevailing a year earlier. As a consequence, total foreign assets declined by €2.65 billion during the same period, resulting in an overall increase in the IIP of €0.13 billion.

Malta’s total foreign assets abroad amounted to €44.88 billion as at end December 2013. Other Investment accounted for 51.9 per cent while Portfolio Investment represented 43.9 per cent of total foreign assets. Decreases of €2.55 billion and €0.70 billion in loans generated by the banking sector and in debt securities respectively were the main contributors to the overall decline in foreign assets.

At the end of December last year, Malta’s foreign liabilities were estimated at €43.16 billion. Other Investment totalled €32.66 billion, accounting for 75.7 per cent of total foreign liabilities. The overall decline in foreign liabilities was characterised by a drop in the foreign direct investment equity of a ?nancial intermediary.