TIRANA, January 19, 2025 – Albania had a tough year for trade in 2024, with exports to regional markets seeing sharp declines.
Exports to North Macedonia dropped the most, falling 26% to 11.8 billion leks from 15.9 billion the year before. Montenegro followed, with a 20% decrease, and Serbia saw a 16% decline. Even Kosovo, Albania’s closest trade partner, was affected, with exports down nearly 10% to 36.8 billion leks.
One small success came from Bosnia and Herzegovina, where exports increased by 3% to 3.1 billion leks. But this growth was not enough to make up for the overall drop.
The weak euro is seen as a major reason for the struggles. It lowered earnings for exporters and made Albanian products less competitive in neighboring countries.
Imports told a mixed story. Albania bought 33% more goods from Kosovo, and imports from Montenegro rose by 9%. However, goods from North Macedonia and Serbia fell by 15% and 11%, respectively.
With 2025 now underway, businesses and policymakers will need to address these challenges and find ways to improve Albania’s trade position.
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