Exports continued to remain in positive territory in August 2026, but at a significantly slower pace than in previous months. The latest data from INSTAT show that sales of Albanian goods abroad reached ALL 20.5 billion, an increase of 1.6% compared with August last year.
Albania’s foreign trade saw an increase in imports during August, while the trade deficit widened significantly compared with a year earlier.
According to INSTAT data, exports of goods reached around €223.5 million, up 1.6% compared with August last year. Meanwhile, imports increased by 12.6%, reaching around €824.2 million.
As a result, the trade deficit in August stood at around €599.7 million, 17.4% higher than in the same month of 2025.
The increase in exports was positively influenced by construction materials and metals, as well as food, beverages and tobacco, while textiles and footwear made a negative contribution.
As for imports, the increase was driven mainly by machinery, equipment and spare parts, which contributed 4.8 percentage points, followed by minerals, fuels and electricity with 3.5 percentage points.
Italy remains one of Albania’s main trading partners. In August, exports to Italy increased by 5%, while imports from Italy rose by 2.2%.
Meanwhile, trade with European Union countries accounts for 46.2% of Albania’s total foreign trade.
The post Foreign trade: €223 million in exports in August, imports also increase appeared first on Euronews Albania.
