July 18 (SeeNews) - Albania's trade deficit increased by 8.7% year-on-year in the first half of 2022, reaching 193 billion leks ($1.7 billion/1.6 billion euro), the national statistical office said on Monday.
Exports rose 43.3% on the year to 253 billion leks in the period under review, while imports increased 25.9% to 446 billion leks, INSTAT said in a statement.
In June alone, Albania's trade deficit totalled 35 billion leks, up 8.6% year-on-year.
Italy remained Albania's main trading partner in the January-June period, absorbing Albanian exports of 115.7 billion leks and providing 104.1 billion leks worth of imports to the country.
Albania exported mainly textile and footwear, construction materials and metals and minerals, fuels and electricity.
(1 euro = 118.239 leks)