October 17 (SeeNews) - Albania's trade deficit increased by 2.1% year-on-year to 252 billion leks ($2.2 billion/1.8 billion euro) in the first nine months of 2017, statistical office INSTAT said on Tuesday.
Exports rose 13.3% year-on-year to 201 billion leks, whereas imports added 6.8% to 453 billion leks.
In September alone, exports grew 16.8% on the year to 24 billion leks, while imports rose 10.5% to 53 billion leks, INSTAT added.
Italy remained Albania's main trading partner in the first nine months of 2017, absorbing Albanian exports of 107.4 billion leks and providing imports of 129.6 billion leks. Other major importers were China, Turkey, Greece and Germany.
Albania exported mainly textiles, footwear, minerals, fuels and construction materials. The country imported chiefly machinery, equipment and spare parts, as well as food, beverages and tobacco.
(1 euro=1112.101 leks)