Albania’s trade deficit widened to ALL 48.2 billion in May 2026, up from ALL 45.8 billion in the same month a year earlier, marking the largest gap in five months. Exports increased by 2.8% year-on-year to ALL 32.7 billion, supported by higher shipments of food, beverages, and tobacco (+17.5%); construction materials and metals (+16.5%); and machinery, equipment, and spare parts (+10.5%).
Among major trading partners, export growth was strongest to Austria (+106.7%), China (+170.2%), and Turkey (+74.6%), while exports declined to Spain (-21.6%), Macedonia (-14.1%), and Switzerland (-10.6%).
Imports rose 4.1% to ALL 80.9 billion, driven by increased purchases of minerals, fuels, and electricity (+40.2%); chemicals and plastic products (+6.4%); and wood and paper products (+6.4%). Import growth was particularly notable from Switzerland (+115.9%), followed by Russia (+49.4%), China (+29.2%), and Kosovo (+22.3%), whereas imports fell from Croatia (-22.9%), Macedonia (-22.0%), and Spain (-18.9%).
