Albania's Jan-July Trade Gap Widens 3.8% to 180.9 Bln Leks (1.367 Bln Euro)

September 1 (SeeNews) - Albania’s trade balance for the first seven months of 2009 showed a deficit of 180.9 billion leks ($1.958 billion/1.367 billion euro), an increase of 3.8% on the year , the National Statistics Institute, INSTAT, said on Tuesday.

In July alone Albania's trade gap was 27.1 billion leks, INSTAT said in a monthly report.

In the seven months through July, imports decreased by 1.9% on the year to 238.2 billion leks, while exports fell by 16.4% year-on-year to 57.22 billion leks.

European Union member states accounted for 80.1% of Albania’s exports through July and 64.3% of its imports. Italy and Greece were Albania’s main trading partners in the seven months through July.

Textile and footwear were Albania’s main export items with a share of 50.4% of the total through July. Minerals and fuels ranked second with a 17.3% share, followed by construction materials and metals with 12.1%.

Albania imported mostly machines and spare parts, which accounted for 24.2% of all imports. Food, beverages and tobacco products came second with 17.2%.

ALBANIA'S TRADE BALANCE (in billions of leks):

Albania ended last year with a trade deficit of 327.32 billion leks, 17.3% up from 2007.

(1 euro = 132.3109 Albanian leks)