Albania Trade Deficit Narrows in September

Albania’s trade deficit narrowed to ALL 47.3 billion in September 2026 from ALL 47.8 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports rose 14.8% to ALL 31.2 billion, lifted by higher shipments of minerals, fuels, and electricity (+12.8 pp), construction materials and metals (+3.4 pp), and machinery, equipment, and spare parts (+1.8 pp), partly offset by lower sales of textiles and footwear (-5.5 pp). Exports increased the most to Kosovo (+22.5%) and Greece (+13.9%). Meanwhile, imports rose 4.8% to ALL 78.6 billion, driven largely by higher purchases of minerals, fuels, and electricity (+3.2 pp), construction materials and metals (+0.5 pp), and food, beverages, and tobacco (+0.5 pp). Imports increased the most from Turkey (+6.8%) and Greece (+3.8%). The gap narrowed as exports rose faster than imports. During the January–September period, exports totalled ALL 278.9 billion, up from ALL 260.2 billion, while imports reached ALL 690.3 billion, up from ALL 656.9 billion.

Albania’s trade deficit widened to ALL 55.0 billion in August 2026 from ALL 46.9 billion in the same month a year earlier, marking the largest deficit since December 2021. Imports jumped 12.6% year-on-year to ALL 75.6 billion, driven largely by higher purchases of minerals, fuels, and electricity (+23.2%), machinery, equipment, and spare parts (+19.8%), and construction materials and metals (+16.5%). Among key trading partners, imports increased from the US (+320.3%), Spain (+27.4%), Turkey (21.9%), and China (+16.9%). Meanwhile, exports rose 1.6% to ALL 20.5 billion, lifted by increased shipments of leather and leather products (+27.3%), wood and articles of paper (+12.0%), and food, beverages, and tobacco (+7.9%). Exports increased the most to Switzerland (+101.9%), the US (+71.6%), China (+49.5%), and Germany (+14.9%). During the January–August period, the country’s trade gap totalled ALL 364.1 billion, up from ALL 348.9 billion in the corresponding month last year.

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.