Food dependence on foreigners deepens - Study, imports increase by over 21 thousand tons. Incentives required
In recent years, Albania has experienced a continuous increase in food imports, due to various factors, making consumers more dependent on foreign products.
Among the reasons for the deepening of the trade balance between exports and imports, the following are mentioned: limited domestic production capacities for some crops and livestock products; Changes in consumer demand for processed products, with different quality and origin; Lack of investment in the processing and storage of domestic products; Climatic fluctuations and seasonality that affect the stability of domestic production.
According to a study by "ALTAX", in contrast to exports, agri-food imports recorded moderate growth, as a result of the decline in local production, changing consumption styles and increased demand from tourism.
Imports increased from 872,676 tons in 2023 to 894,381 tons in 2024, with an addition of over 21,700 tons.
The study highlights that this trend indicates an increase in dependence on international markets, especially for processed products, standardized dairy, meat and fish products. The economic effect is twofold, increasing the trade deficit and putting pressure on domestic producers who face high competition from lower-cost, but often questionable quality, imports.
According to the document, the trade balance of the agri-food sector remains negative and deteriorating. For every unit of product exported, Albania imports more than two units, reflecting a weakness in domestic production and processing capacity.
The study concludes that reversing this trend requires immediate measures, including: incentivizing local certification and processing, investments in logistics and the cold chain, promotional policies for products with protected origins (GI/IGP), and technical and financial assistance for access to international markets.
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