Albania buys more as exports struggle

Albania’s trade gap widened in May as imports grew faster than exports and the country’s garment industry remained under pressure.

Imports rose 4.1% from a year earlier, outpacing export growth of 2.8%.

Food, drinks, metals and construction materials helped exports grow, but textiles and footwear continued to decline.

A stronger lek has made it harder for exporters paid in euros, while fuel imports rose as tensions in the Middle East kept pressure on energy markets.