North Macedonia Trade Gap Widens in May

North Macedonia’s trade deficit widened to $311 million in May 2026 from $254 million in the same month last year. Imports rose 8.6% year-on-year to $1,189 million, while exports increased 4.4% to $878 million. In the January–May period, imports climbed 14.4% to $5,813 million, driven by higher purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (4.3%), chemicals and related products (14.5%), and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (27.3%). Among key trading partners, the largest increases in imports came from Great Britain (83.3%), China (17.6%), and Greece (28.7%). Meanwhile, exports rose 13.9% to $4,132 million, supported by higher shipments of chemicals and related products (30.6%), machinery and transport equipment (6.2%), and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (11.6%). Export growth was strongest to Germany (12.4%), Serbia (20.6%), and Bulgaria (22.3%). Over the first five months of the year, the trade deficit totaled $1,681 million.

North Macedonia’s trade deficit widened to $439 million in April 2026 from $311 million in the corresponding month a year earlier. Imports rose 27% year-on-year to $1,355 million, while exports increased 21.3% to $916 million. In the January-April period, imports climbed 16% to $4,622 million, driven by higher purchases of chemical and related products (13%), machinery and transport equipment (5.9%), and miscellaneous manufactured goods (16%). The largest increases in imports came from Great Britain (91.7%), China (15.2%), and Germany (3.2%). Meanwhile, exports grew 16.8% to $3,254 million, supported by increased shipments of chemical and related products (34.9%), manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (12.7%), machinery and transport equipment (9.7%), and miscellaneous manufactured goods (6.9%). Export growth was strongest to Germany (17.5%), Bulgaria (20.1%), and Serbia (17.7%). Over the first four months of the year, the country’s trade deficit totaled $1,368 million.

North Macedonia’s trade deficit narrowed to $193 million in March 2026 from $261 million in the same month a year earlier, marking the smallest gap since September 2021. Exports rose 13.4% year-on-year to $855 million, while imports increased 3.3% to $1,049 million. In the January-March period, exports climbed 15.1% to $2,338 million, supported by stronger sales of food and live animals (13.9%), chemicals and related products (29.6%), machinery and transport equipment (8.6%), and miscellaneous finished goods (8.5%). Meanwhile, imports grew 11.8% to $3,265 million, driven by higher purchases of food and live animals (8.6%), products classified by material (24.3%), chemical and related products (11.7%), machinery and transport equipment (5.5%), and miscellaneous finished goods (16.2%). However, over the first three months of the year, the trade deficit totaled $927 million, up from $889 million in the same period a year earlier.