August 29 (SeeNews) - Albania's trade deficit widened by 19.7% on the year to 189.2 billion leks ($1.54 billion/1.38 billion euro) in the first seven months of 2016, reflecting lower exports and higher imports, data from the country's statistic office, INSTAT, showed on Monday.
Exports fell 6.6% on the year to 140 billion leks in January-July, while imports rose 6.9% to 329.2 billion leks.
In July alone, exports ticked down 0.6% to 22.4 billion leks, whereas imports increased 24.1% year-on-year to 49.8 billion leks.
Albania's main trading partner during the seven-month period remained Italy.
The country exported mainly textile and footwear, as well as minerals and fuels, and construction materials. It imported predominantly machinery, equipment and spare parts, and food, beverages and tobacco.
($=122.589 leks)