Fuels take the helm of exports/ February restores trade, but the trend weakens further
Exports of goods returned to growth in February, giving first signs of stabilization after a difficult year for foreign trade, although the pace of growth still remains limited.
According to official data, exports reached 30.9 billion lek, an increase of 2.8% compared to February last year and 15.8% more than in January.
Growth has been supported by a narrow sector base. The energy and minerals sector posted a strong 31.1% growth, while machinery and equipment expanded by 6.4%, acting as the main pillars of exports. This suggests that the positive performance is concentrated and not widely distributed across the economy.
In contrast, traditional export sectors continue to show signs of weakness. Food, beverages and tobacco fell by 14.4%, while textiles and footwear, one of the main employment sectors, contracted by 3.6%. Construction materials and metals also fell (-6.6%), reflecting weaker external demand and pressures in the manufacturing industry.
On the other hand, imports increased by 0.8%, reaching 68 billion lek, but their structure gives stronger signals for economic activity. The significant increase in imports of machinery and equipment by 21.5% suggests investments or expansion of activity.
Meanwhile, imports of minerals and energy fell sharply by 30.6%, reflecting changes in the supply structure.
As a result, the trade deficit remained high at 37.1 billion lek, albeit with a slight decrease in annual terms.
In terms of markets, Albanian exports have recorded strong growth towards Kosovo and Germany, by 37.1% and 34.7% respectively, while a decline has been recorded in key markets such as Italy and Spain.
On the other hand, imports have increased significantly from China and Kosovo, while they have decreased from Italy and Turkey, reflecting changes in supply sources.
The European Union remains Albania's main trading partner, accounting for 56.3% of total trade. Exports to EU countries account for 70.3% of the total, while imports from the EU account for 49.9%.
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