Albania's trade gap expands 34% y/y in Feb

Exports fell by 16% on the year, to some 32 billion leks, while imports grew by 6.4% to some 74 billion leks, INSTAT said in a monthly statement on Monday.

Exports of minerals, fuels, electricity; shoes, textiles and building materials, and metals decreased, contributing to the overall export decline in February. Conversely, exports of chemical and plastic products, as well as food, beverages, and tobacco, recorded a slight increase.

Italy remained Albania's main trading partner in February, absorbing Albanian exports of 14.5 billion leks and providing imports worth 15.2 billion leks.

In 2023, Albania's trade deficit decreased by 6.7%, reaching 432.3 billion leks, the stats office has said.

(1 euro = 103.3 leks)