In May 2025, North Macedonia experienced a reduction in its trade deficit, which decreased to $250 million from $309 million in May of the previous year. This positive shift was largely due to a significant increase in exports, which soared by 28.1% year-on-year, reaching $841 million. In contrast, imports grew at a more moderate pace of 13.3%, totaling $1,091 million.
For the period spanning January through May, the nation registered a trade deficit of $1,448 million. During this timeframe, exports rose by 3.3% compared to the same period in the previous year, achieving $3,627 million. The growth was buoyed by substantial increases in the sale of beverages and tobacco (up by 56.8%), animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes (a rise of 31%), and machinery and transport equipment (which climbed by 15.6%). On the import side, purchases saw a marginal increase of 0.95%, reaching $5,075 million, primarily attributed to higher imports of animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes (which increased by 27.7%), beverages and tobacco (up by 14.4%), and mineral fuels, lubricants, and related products (which grew by 7.1%).
