Imports - partners: France 19.1%, Italy 16.7%, UK 10.9%, Germany 10.0%, US 8.5% (1999)

Debt - external: $130 million (1997)

Economic aid - recipient: $NA

Currency: Maltese lira (MTL)

Currency code: MTL

Exchange rates: Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.4370 (January 2001), 0.4376 (2000), 0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Malta Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 187,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 17,691 (1997)