TIRANA, July 17 /ATA/ – Albania’s exports rose 13.6% year-on-year to 35.4 billion leks in June, driven by higher shipments of minerals, fuels and electricity, while imports also increased, official data showed on Friday.
The National Statistics Institute (INSTAT) said imports climbed 9.1% from a year earlier to 83.5 billion leks, widening the trade deficit by 6.1% to 48 billion leks.
Export growth was led by minerals, fuels and electricity, followed by construction materials and metals, and machinery and equipment. Textile and footwear exports declined.
Italy and Kosovo recorded the strongest increases among Albania’s main export markets, with exports rising 7.6% and 38.5%, respectively.
Exports to Germany and North Macedonia fell 12.8% and 13% respectively.
On the import side, purchases from Italy rose 24.9% and from China 11.5%, while imports from Türkiye and Spain declined.
The European Union remained Albania’s largest trading partner, accounting for 58.4% of the country’s total trade.
Exports to EU member states represented 69.9% of total exports, while 53.6% of imports originated from the bloc, INSTAT said.
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