March 17 (SeeNews) - Albania's trade deficit decreased to 40 billion leks ($317.4 million/295.6 million euro) in the first two months of 2017, down from 43 billion leks a year earlier, due to a rise in exports, the statistical office, INSTAT, said on Friday.
Exports rose 14.7% year-on-year to 39 billion leks, whereas imports added 2.6% to 79 billion leks.
In February alone, exports grew 11% on the year to 20 billion leks, while imports rose 4.8% to 44 billion leks.
Italy remained Albania's main trading partner in the first two months of 2017, absorbing Albanian exports of 21.1 billion leks and providing imports of 24.9 billion leks. Other major importers into Albania were China, Turkey, Greece and Germany.
Albania exported mainly textiles, footwear, minerals and fuels, and construction materials. The country imported predominantly machinery, equipment and spare parts, as well as food, beverages and tobacco.
(1 euro = 135.3 leks)