October 17 (SeeNews) - Albania's trade deficit expanded by 13.4% year-on-year in the January-September period, reaching 329 billion leks ($2.7 billion/2.8 billion euro), the national statistical office said on Monday.
Exports rose 37.9% on the year to 366 billion leks in the period under review, while imports increased 25.1% to 695 billion leks, INSTAT said in a statement.
In September alone, Albania's trade deficit totalled 49 billion leks, up 37.6% year-on-year.
Italy remained Albania's main trading partner in the January-September period, absorbing Albanian exports of 160.7 billion leks and providing 151 billion leks worth of imports to the country.
Albania exported mainly textile and footwear, construction materials and metals and minerals, fuels and electricity.
(1 euro = 117.318 leks)