Albania's Jan-Sept Trade Gap Widens 4.5% to 238.4 Bln Leks (1.727 Bln Euro)

The country posted a trade gap of 31.1 billion leks in September alone, the National Statistics Institute, INSTAT, said in a monthly report.

In the nine months through September, imports fell by 0.9% on the year to 312.5 billion leks, while exports slumped by 15% to 73.9 billion leks.

European Union member states accounted for 78.7% of Albania’s exports through September and 64.4% of its imports. Italy and Greece were Albania’s main trading partners in the first nine months of the year.

Textile and footwear were Albania’s main export items with a share of 48.4% of the total through September. Minerals and fuels ranked second with a 19.2% share, followed by construction materials and metals with 12.1%.

Albania imported mostly machines, equipment and spare parts, which accounted for 23.2% of its imports. Food, beverages and tobacco products came second with 17.6%.

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 = 138.0598 Albanian leks)