TIRANA, Sept. 24 /ATA/ – Albania’s customs administration collected a record 164.9 billion leks in revenue in the first eight months of 2026, up 6.8 billion leks from the same period a year earlier, the General Directorate of Customs said on Thursday.
The figure was the highest customs revenue recorded for an eight-month period and was driven by stronger import activity, improved customs administration and tighter controls, the directorate said.
Value-added tax (VAT) on imports was the main contributor to the increase, generating about 4.4 billion leks more than in the first eight months of 2025. Excise revenue rose by about 2 billion leks.
Excise revenue from cigarette imports alone increased by about 1.4 billion leks, while the volume imported and consumption rose by around 111 tonnes. Revenue from imported fuel also increased, by 258 million leks, while higher receipts were recorded from imported beer and domestically produced tobacco.
Within import VAT, fuel generated the largest increase, contributing 2.5 billion leks more than a year earlier, followed by clothing with 673 million leks, cigarettes with 462 million leks, and computers and printers with 304 million leks.
Customs duties also rose by about 568 million leks, with clothing, footwear and other goods, base metals and other products among the main contributors.
The customs administration said the results reflected continued positive performance, while efforts to simplify procedures, combat informality and strengthen controls were aimed at creating a more orderly business environment and fairer competition.
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