Albania's Jan-Oct Trade Gap Rises 1.9% to 266.4 Bln Leks (1.927 Bln Euro)

The country posted a trade gap of 27.8 billion leks in October alone, 15.8% lower on the year, the National Statistics Institute, INSTAT, said in a monthly report.

In the ten months through October, imports fell by 2.2% on the year to 350 billion leks, while exports slumped 13.4% to 83.6 billion leks.

European Union member states accounted for 79% of Albania’s exports through October and 64.5% of its imports. Italy and Greece were Albania’s main trading partners in the first ten months of the year.

Textile and footwear were Albania’s main export items with a share of 48% of the total through October. Minerals and fuels ranked second with a 18.9% share, followed by construction materials and metals with 12.3%.

Albania imported mostly machines, equipment and spare parts, which accounted for 22.9% of its imports. Food, beverages and tobacco products came second with 17.8%.

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

Albania ended 2008 with a trade deficit of 327.32 billion leks, 17.3% up on the year.

(1 euro = 138.2688 Albanian leks)