Online Shopping in Malta: How It Really Works

It is hard to imagine daily life without the internet these days. We’ve moved so much of our lives to the web, and in many places, you can even sort out government paperwork from the comfort of your sofa. But one thing has shifted even more dramatically: how we shop.

Twenty years ago, buying a book meant walking into a bookstore. Today, most of us check Amazon first. It’s usually cheaper, offers more choice, and is simply more convenient. But Amazon hasn't conquered every corner of the globe just yet. Here in Malta, for instance, you don't see Amazon parcels on every doorstep. So, what is the situation with e-commerce on the island?

Amazon Deliveries to Malta

For all of Malta's progress in other areas, the country still lags behind much of the EU when it comes to online retail. If you want to order from Amazon, you are generally looking at ordering from international sites (like Amazon UK or Germany) and dealing with international shipping fees to get the package to Malta.

That said, even with shipping costs added on, these items are often still cheaper than buying from brick-and-mortar shops here. This is especially true if you bundle several items to make the shipping fee worth it. I understand the argument for supporting local businesses, but the reality of island life means that small electronics, in particular, come with a significant markup compared to the mainland.

However, you can forget about next-day Amazon Prime delivery here—it simply doesn't exist. Because of the shipping costs, people here don't order nearly as impulsively as my friends and family back in Germany do.

My Tip: If you are planning to order something online to Malta, check before you start browsing whether the seller actually ships here and at what cost. It saves you a lot of frustration at the checkout stage.

Local Options: Scan Malta and Others

Of course, there are local alternatives. For computers and tech gear, Scanmalta is the go-to place. There are also marketplaces like Trolleymania.com, which attempt to aggregate different sellers in a similar way to Amazon, allowing you to buy various goods—mostly smaller items—online.

Prices on these local platforms are generally reasonable, and shipping costs are set by the individual sellers. Initiatives like these, originally backed by the IT Ministry, offer a decent alternative to the giants for certain products.

While Malta might not be a paradise for online shoppers, it offers massive advantages for online businesses via the Malta Limited structure. If you run a company that offers digital services, it is often easier to meet the substance requirements for taxation in Malta compared to other industries. For the specifics on how this works, you can always reach out to me and my partners at DW&P.