North Macedonia Trade Gap Widens in September

North Macedonia’s trade deficit narrowed to $295 million in December 2025 from $388 million in the same month of the previous year. Exports climbed 21% year-on-year to $717 million, while imports rose at a slightly slower pace of 20% to $1,181 million. For the whole year, the country’s trade deficit reached $3,504 million. Imports rose 9% compared to the corresponding period a year earlier to $13,048 million, driven largely by higher purchases of food and live animals (10.8%), animal and vegetable oil and fats and waxes (23.6%), chemical and related products (9.3%), and miscellaneous manufactured articles (9%). Meanwhile, exports grew by 7.4% to $9,050 million, attributed to an increase in sales of beverages and tobacco (38.2%), machinery and transport equipment (16.1%), miscellaneous manufactured articles (3.6%), and crude materials (9.1%).

North Macedonia’s trade deficit narrowed to $295 million in November 2025 from $303 million in the same month of the previous year. Exports climbed 14.8% year-on-year to $798 million, while imports rose at a slower pace of 9.5% to $1,093 million. In the January to November period, the country’s trade deficit reached $3,503 million. Imports increased 7.7% compared to the corresponding period a year earlier to $11,837 million, primarily driven by higher purchases of products classified by material (9.9%), chemical and related products (7.8%), and mineral fuels, lubricants and related products (1.7%). Meanwhile, exports rose 6.4% to $8,333 million, mainly due to stronger sales of machinery and transport equipment (15.3%), miscellaneous finished goods (2.8%), and food and live animals (7.9%). However, exports of chemical and related products declined (–2%).

North Macedonia’s trade deficit widened to $394 million in October 2025, from $307 million in the same month of the previous year. Imports climbed by 15.4% year-on-year to $1,240 million, while exports grew by 10.25% to $846 million. During the January–October period, the country’s trade deficit reached $3,206 million. Imports rose by 7.5% compared to the corresponding period a year earlier, totaling $10,742 million, driven mainly by higher purchases of products classified by materials (9.4%), chemical and related products (7.3%), and mineral fuels, lubricants, and related products (0.2%). Meanwhile, exports increased at a more moderate pace of 5.6%, reaching $7,536 million, supported by stronger sales of machinery and transport equipment (15.7%), miscellaneous finished goods (2.7%), and products classified by materials (0.9%). However, exports of chemical and related products declined by 4.4%.