Albania Trade Gap Narrows in July

Albania’s trade deficit narrowed slightly to ALL 52.8 billion in July 2026 from ALL 53.0 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports jumped 10.6% year-on-year to ALL 33.7 billion, lifted by higher shipments of construction materials and metals (72.1%), minerals, fuels, and electricity (32.4%), and machinery, equipment, and spare parts (7.8%). Among key trading partners, exports increased to Greece (+19.0%), China (+54.8%), the US (+729.2%), and Germany (+2.5%). Meanwhile, imports rose 3.6% to ALL 86.4 billion, driven largely by higher purchases of minerals, fuels, and electricity (12.7%), food, beverages, and tobacco (4.3%), and construction materials and metals (2.7%). Imports increased the most from China (+22.7%), Turkey (+10.5%), and Italy (+0.3%). During the January–July period, the country’s trade gap totalled ALL 309.1 billion, up from ALL 302.1 billion in the corresponding period of last year.

Albania’s trade deficit widened to ALL 48.0 billion in June 2026 from ALL 45.8 billion in the same month a year earlier. Imports rose 9.1% year-on-year to ALL 83.5 billion, supported by higher purchases of food, beverages, and tobacco (11.6%), chemicals and plastic products (17.8%), machinery, equipment, and spare parts (3.4%), and minerals, fuels, and electricity (24.4%). Among key trading partners, imports increased from Italy (24.9%), China (11.5%), Greece (6.9%), and Germany (3.4%). Meanwhile, exports climbed 13.6% to ALL 35.4 billion, driven by stronger shipments of minerals, fuels, and electricity (31.0%), food, beverages, and tobacco (8.5%), construction materials and metals (29.1%), and machinery, equipment, and spare parts (30.1%). Exports rose the most to Kosovo (38.5%), Greece (24.2%), and Italy (7.6%). During the January–June period, the country’s trade gap totaled ALL 256.4 billion, up from ALL 249.1 billion in the corresponding period of last year.

Albania’s trade deficit widened to ALL 48.2 billion in May 2026 from ALL 45.8 billion in the same month a year earlier, marking the largest shortfall in five months. Exports rose 2.8% year-on-year to ALL 32.7 billion, driven by higher shipments of food, beverages, and tobacco (+17.5%), construction materials and metals (+16.5%), and machinery, equipment, and spare parts (+10.5%). Among key trading partners, exports increased the most to Austria (+106.7%), China (+170.2%), and Turkey (+74.6%), while sales to Spain (-21.6%), Macedonia (-14.1%), and Switzerland (-10.6%) declined. Meanwhile, imports grew 4.1% to ALL 80.9 billion, lifted by stronger purchases of minerals, fuels, and electricity (+40.2%), chemicals and plastic products (+6.4%), and wood and paper products (+6.4%). Imports increased significantly from Switzerland (+115.9%), followed by Russia (+49.4%), China (+29.2%), and Kosovo (+22.3%), while purchases dropped from Croatia (-22.9%), Macedonia (-22.0%), and Spain (-18.9%).