19.01.202610:12:54UTC+00Albania Trade Deficit Largest in A Year

Albania experienced an expansion in its trade deficit, reaching ALL 53 billion in December 2025, up from ALL 33 billion in December of the previous year, the highest figure recorded since December 2024. Imports climbed by 1.3% year-on-year to ALL 80 billion. This increase was driven by heightened inflows of construction materials and metals (contributing +1.2 percentage points), food, beverages, and tobacco (+1.0 percentage points), as well as minerals, fuels, and electricity (+0.4 percentage points). These gains were partially offset by a decrease in the imports of wood products (-0.4 percentage points) and chemical and plastic products (-0.3 percentage points). Additionally, there was a surge in purchases from China, Kosovo, and Greece, while imports from Italy, Turkey, and Germany saw a decline.

Conversely, exports exhibited a growth of 5.6%, totaling ALL 27 billion. This increase was largely propelled by exports of minerals, fuels, and electricity (+3.0 percentage points), construction materials and metals (+2.4 percentage points), and machinery and spare parts (+1.2 percentage points). However, there was a reduction in the export of food, beverages, and tobacco (-0.5 percentage points) and chemical and plastic products (-0.5 percentage points). Notably, exports to Kosovo and Greece increased, whereas there was a decrease in exports to Italy, the United States, and Germany.