Euro rises, exchanged for 100 lekë - Significantly improves after a strong depreciation of several months
After months of depreciation of the euro against the lek, the European currency is now worth 100 lek. Since August, the euro had fallen below the 100 lek level and showed no signs of improvement until the last week of January.
According to official statistics from the Bank of Albania, the major euro-lek break was recorded on August 12. For the first time, the European currency would fall below the 100 lek level, thus establishing a new reality in the foreign exchange market.
In 2024, the exchange rate was accompanied by a deep decline in the euro and a strong appreciation of the lek. In the first months of last year, the exchange rate appeared somewhat stable, but in the second half of the year, the first signs of depreciation of foreign currencies against the local currency began to be seen.
Although the exchange rate has been accompanied by occasional fluctuations, since August, 1 euro has continued to be exchanged for less than 100 lekë. Specifically, the lowest level would be recorded on November 14, 2024, where 1 euro was exchanged for 98.11 lekë.
Meanwhile, 2025 started with a slight improvement. Compared to the last two days of December, where 1 euro was exchanged for 98.14 lekë and 98.15 lekë, on January 6, the European currency marked a slight increase, where 1 euro was exchanged for 98.23 lekë. In the last week of January, the exchange rate experienced a sudden increase.
In its latest report, the International Monetary Fund warned that if the euro were to revalue to 2022 levels, it would negatively impact the financial sector, households and businesses, through an increase in non-performing loans, given that a large portion of loans are in foreign currency. On the other hand, the rise of the European currency is expected to positively affect exporting businesses, which have contracts in euros, but will negatively affect imports.
In its most recent report, the International Monetary Fund stressed that the exchange rate should be allowed to adjust more flexibly, with intervention serving as a complementary tool to address non-fundamental fluctuations. Careful weighing of the costs and benefits of further reserve accumulation would also be important.
Poll

Who is Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's nominee for national intelligence, and why has she raised the alarm around the world?!
As Donald Trump's second presidency begins, many of his cabinet appointees are drawing ire from his political opponents. Pete Hegseth, now confirmed as......

BoA: The decline in treasury bill interest rates reduced the price of credit for individuals and businesses!
The Bank of Albania announces that the interest rate on treasury bills marked a slight increase in Tuesday's auction. According to the BoA, 10.5 billion lek......

US Executive Order/ What Happens to Funds for Albania? - Medicines and Medical Services Will Continue to Be Supported
Through a notice sent by the U.S. Embassy to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, it is announced that, in connection with the executive order of the......

Agricultural exports/ Denaj: The amount of fruit and vegetables exported increases by 26% during 2024!
Fruit and vegetable exports increased by 26% in 2024, compared to the previous year, announced the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Anila......

Businesses that closed and those that are "thriving"/ Transportation and agriculture "put the lock on". Accommodation and information, with the highest growth
There are about 130 thousand active enterprises throughout Albania, according to data analyzed by "Scan Intel", increasing by about 19 thousand units over......

Rain and snow/ ARRSH: Rockfall on several axes in Kukës and Tropoja, normal traffic on national roads
The Albanian Road Authority announced that rainfall continued overnight, causing rocks to fall on the road in Skurraj-Maqellarë, Kukës-Ura e Zapodit and......

How many treasury bills did Albanians buy in 2024? - AFSA: Investment value, many times higher than in 2023
In 2024, treasury bills and bonds were bought and sold in much higher amounts than in 2023. Despite the decrease in the number of transactions, their volume......

Geneva will be heated with recycled energy from this revolutionary Swiss data center!
A Swiss data center inaugurated this week will use recycled energy to generate heat for homes in the area. Geneva-based Infomaniak has recovered 100 percent......