2026.03.1710:24:34UTC+00Albania Trade Gap Narrows Slightly in February

Albania’s trade deficit narrowed slightly to ALL 37.1 billion in February 2026, from ALL 37.4 billion in the same month a year earlier.

Exports rose by 2.8% year-on-year to ALL 30.9 billion, supported mainly by higher shipments of minerals, fuels, and electricity (+31.1%), as well as machinery, equipment, and spare parts (+6.4%). These gains were partly offset by weaker sales of food, beverages, and tobacco (-14.4%), along with construction materials and metals (-6.6%).

By destination, exports increased notably to China (+91.7%), Kosovo (+37.1%), Germany (+34.7%), and North Macedonia (+27.7%), while they declined sharply to Ukraine (-74.0%) and Switzerland (-72.1%).

Imports rose at a more moderate pace, up 0.8% year-on-year to ALL 68 billion. Higher purchases of machinery, equipment, and spare parts (+21.5%) and of food, beverages, and tobacco (+5.7%) were partly offset by lower imports of minerals, fuels, and electricity (-30.6%), as well as construction materials and metals (-9.5%).

By origin, imports increased from Russia (+165.5%), China (+53.9%), and Kosovo (+36.5%), but declined from Ukraine (-30.8%) and Spain (-25.1%).