April 17 (SeeNews) - Albania's trade deficit increased by 1.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2018, reaching 71 billion leks ($674.3 million/545.4 million euro), the country's statistical office, INSTAT, said on Tuesday.
Exports rose 18.9% on the year to 74 billion leks in the period under review, while imports increased 9.6% to 146 billion leks, INSTAT said in a statement.
In March alone, Albania's trade deficit totalled 28 billion leks, down 7.3% year-on-year.
Italy remained Albania's main trading partner in the January-March period, absorbing Albanian exports of 37.7 billion leks and providing imports to the country of 41.1 billion leks. Other major importers into Albania were Germany, Greece, Turkey and China.
Albania exported mainly construction materials and metals, textile and footwear, food, drinks and tobacco.
(1 euro = 128.698 leks)