Tourism increases imports of excise goods, but not cigarettes - How much fuel and alcoholic beverages were consumed in 4 months?
The import and consumption of excise goods has increased significantly in the first 4 months of the year.
According to official data from the Ministry of Finance, by April 2025, approximately 219.4 thousand tons of fuel had been cleared and sent for consumption. Compared to January-April 2024, imports of this product had increased by 28.4 thousand tons.
The increase in fuel consumption, as one of the main products that affects the economic chain of goods and services, signals an increase in domestic demand and economic growth.
It also signals the start of a good tourist year and more spending by Albanian citizens. One of the reasons is the drop in the price of oil on the market, which is currently traded at an average price of 175 lek per liter, which makes citizens move more during the weekends and take advantage of short-term vacations. Also, the extension of the tourist season throughout the year, where we not only have tourists interested in coastal areas, but also in visiting tourist cities in the country, and a good part of them come with personal vehicles or rent cars, has led to a significant increase in consumption.
There has also been a significant increase in beer imports, as it seems that accommodation structures are getting ready to welcome more tourists. In the first 4 months of 2025, 14.1 thousand tons of beer were imported, up from 12.9 thousand tons imported in January-April 2024.
But in addition to the role that tourism plays in the import of this product, the purchase of significant quantities from abroad has also been favored by the unification of excise duty for domestic production, which has brought a disadvantage to factories operating in Albania, which are facing high costs and numerous difficulties, but on the other hand has created more ground for importers.
Coffee imports have also increased, with 2,954 tons imported in the first 4 months of the year, an increase of 615 tons compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, cigarette imports have decreased by 164 tons, with 731 tons imported in three months from 895 tons in January-April 2024.
Excise revenue for the period January-March 2025 was recorded at 20 billion lek, marking an increase of 3 billion lek or 12.7% more than the same period in 2024, as well as realizing 1.1 billion lek or 6% more than the excise plan for the period January-April 2025.
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