May 17 (SeeNews) - Albania's trade deficit increased by 6% year-on-year in the first four months of 2022, reaching 123 billion leks ($1.1 billion/1 billion euro), the national statistical office said on Tuesday.
Exports rose 48.8% on the year to 162 billion leks in the period under review, while imports increased 26.7% to 285 billion leks, INSTAT said in a statement.
In April alone, Albania's trade deficit totalled 36 billion leks, up 4.6% year-on-year.
Italy remained Albania's main trading partner in the January-April period, absorbing Albanian exports of 76 billion leks and providing 66 billion leks worth of imports to the country.
Albania exported mainly textile and footwear, minerals, fuels and electricity and construction materials and metals.
(1 euro = 121.550 leks)