TIRANA (Albania), May 17 (SeeNews) – Albania's trade deficit increased by 8.9% year-on-year in the first four months of 2019, reaching 106 billion leks ($955.5 million/853.5 million euro), the national statistical office said on Friday.
Exports fell 2.3% to 99 billion leks in the January-April period, while imports increased 3.2% to 205 billion leks, INSTAT said in a statement.
In April alone, Albania's trade deficit amounted to 30 billion leks, up 17.4% year-on-year.
Italy remained Albania's main trading partner during the four months through April, absorbing Albanian exports of 49.9 billion leks and providing imports to the country of 52.6 billion leks. Other major exporters to Albania were Kosovo, Spain and Germany.
Albania exported mainly textile and footwear, construction materials and metals and minerals, fuels, electricity.
(1 euro = 122.070 leks)