What did Albania buy the most this summer? The impact of tourism, from jewelry to infrastructure and food goods
The summer season of 2025 has brought an interesting panorama of Albania's trade movements, where import chapters show unexpected rhythms and are often directly linked to tourist flows and domestic consumption dynamics. Compared to the same period last year, some categories have marked a dizzying increase in both quantity and value, reflecting not only market needs, but also the transformation of the economy during the summer months. "Scan Intel" has analyzed the annual change of the main chapters, for the period June-August 2025, in weight and value.
At the top of the list are “furs”, with an increase of 592.6% in weight and over 605% in value. This unusual figure for a summer season is related not only to fashion trends and the textile industry, but also to the preparation of the market for the upcoming cold period. At the same time, high tourist flows have encouraged the import of new products and materials used in the service sector, hotels and resorts, which often require standards and decorations that are not produced in the domestic market.
Another notable group of goods are locomotives, wagons and their parts, which have increased by 325.8% in weight and 84.1% in value. This is a clear indication of the efforts to improve the railway infrastructure, an investment that is directly related to the strategy of expanding tourism and facilitating transport.
Imports of natural pearls, gemstones, jewelry, and coins also increased by 244% in weight. This reflects domestic consumption and increased demand for luxury items, which is often influenced by tourists with higher purchasing power.
Also, the increase in imports of ships, boats and floating structures, by 69.6% in weight and 40.1% in value, clearly shows the direct impact of maritime tourism, a sector that is increasingly gaining importance in the national economy.
Interestingly, even common goods such as coffee, tea, spices, fruits, and edible nuts have experienced steady growth, driven by mass consumption in the services and gastronomy sectors.

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