Albania Trade Deficit Narrows in January

Albania’s trade deficit narrowed to ALL 31.1 billion in January 2026 from ALL 32 billion in the same month a year earlier. Imports fell 4.0% year-on-year to ALL 57.9 billion, driven by lower inflows of construction materials and metals (-2.1 pp), minerals, fuels, and electricity (-2.0 pp), and chemical and plastic products (-1.5 pp), partly offset by higher imports of machinery, equipment, and spare parts (+2.1 pp). Purchases decreased from Italy (-10.3%) and Greece (-3.3%) but rose from China (+1.8%) and Turkey (+13.5%). Meanwhile, exports declined 4.5% to ALL 26.7 billion, weighed down by drops in minerals, fuels, and electricity (-2.9 pp), textile and footwear (-1.8 pp), and chemical and plastic products (-0.4 pp), mitigated by machinery, equipment, and spare parts (+1.4 pp) and leather products (+0.1 pp). Exports fell to Italy (-3.6%) and Kosovo (-2.0%) but increased to Germany (+30.2%) and Greece (+31.8%).

Albania’s trade deficit widened to ALL 53 billion in December 2025 from ALL 33 billion in the same month a year earlier, marking the largest figure since December 2024. Imports increased 1.3% year-on-year to ALL 80 billion, supported by higher inflows of construction materials and metals (+1.2 pp), food, beverages, and tobacco (+1.0 pp), and minerals, fuels, and electricity (+0.4 pp), partly offset by lower imports of wood products (-0.4 pp) and chemical and plastic products (-0.3 pp). Purchases rose from China, Kosovo, and Greece, while declining from Italy, Turkey, and Germany. Meanwhile, exports grew 5.6% to ALL 27 billion, led by minerals, fuels, and electricity (+3.0 pp), construction materials and metals (+2.4 pp), and machinery and spare parts (+1.2 pp), with declines in food, beverages, and tobacco (-0.5 pp) and chemical and plastic products (-0.5 pp). Exports rose to Kosovo and Greece but fell to Italy, the US, and Germany.

Albania’s trade deficit widened to ALL 49 billion in October 2025 from ALL 46 billion in the same month last year, as imports rose faster than exports. Imports increased 3.6% year-on-year to ALL 80 billion, supported by stronger inflows of minerals, fuels, and electricity (+1.9 pp), chemical and plastic products, and textiles and footwear (both +0.9 pp), partly offset by lower imports of construction materials and metals (-0.9 pp). Among suppliers, purchases increased from Italy, China, and Greece, while declining from Türkiye, Germany, and the US. Meanwhile, exports rose 1.0% to ALL 31 billion, driven mainly by higher shipments of construction materials and metals (+4.8 pp) and machinery and spare parts (+1.4 pp), while declines in minerals, fuels, and electricity (-2.8 pp) and textiles and footwear (-2.1 pp) weighed on the total. By destination, exports rose to Greece, the US, and Spain, but fell to Italy, Kosovo, and Germany.