TIRANA (Albania), March 19 (SeeNews) – Albania's trade deficit increased by 7.6% year-on-year in the January-February period of 2018, reaching 43 billion leks ($401.6 million/326.7 million euro), the national statistical office, INSTAT, said on Monday.
Exports rose 21.5% on the year to 47 billion leks in the first two months of 2018, while imports increased 14.5% to 91 billion leks, INSTAT said in a statement.
In February alone, Albania's trade deficit totalled 22 billion leks, down 8.2% year-on-year.
Italy remained Albania's main trading partner in the January-February period, absorbing Albanian exports of 24.8 billion leks and providing imports to the country of 25.4 billion leks. Other major importers into Albania were Germany, Turkey and China.
Albania exported mainly construction materials and metals, textile and footwear, food, drinks and tobacco.
(1 euro=132.188 leks)