FLASH NEWS
Dependent on imports! Only one in three products on the market is produced in Albania
2025-04-05 20:03:55 / EKONOMI&SOCIALE
For every 1 container of Albanian goods that we send for export to Europe and beyond, 2 others enter via land and sea routes.
It is this foreign trade report in the country that shows how dependent Albania is on foreign goods and at what level Albanian products are.
This report is even more profound when it comes to food. Albania sold food to Europe and beyond worth around 53 billion lek. Meanwhile, Albanian markets and supermarkets contain 156 billion lek of foreign goods.
"Some of the exporters of medicinal plants, vegetables and fruits have losses and a lack of uncompetitive profits. If you don't have finances, it's difficult to make investments and improve working conditions ," said Filip Gjoka, an exporter.
"They are derivatives of last year when we mention the fashion and clothing crisis, as well as the increase in costs in the Albanian economy and the biggest euro exchange rate hit ," said Florjan Zekja, importer.
In other words, out of 3 products lined up on a supermarket shelf, only 1 is produced in Albania, the rest is purchased from abroad, causing the shelves to be filled only with imports.
"The fall of the euro has had a more positive impact on reducing the costs of imported products, which has also led to an increase in quantity," said Adi Haxhiymeri, an importer.
More broadly, Albanian businesses bought 8 billion lek of meat 1 year ago while selling only 52 million lek on world markets. Fish 10.6 billion lek was imported while 7.5 billion was exported. While dairy and eggs were imported about 5 times more. The only positive report is for vegetables as they were exported 4 times more than they were imported.
"The tourism sector has had a significant impact in the months when tourism is developing rapidly," said Adi Haxhiymeri, an importer.
The latest data from the Institute of Statistics shows that in February, Albania exported 34 billion lek, a slight increase of 4.3% compared to a year earlier.
While on the other hand, it imports 68 billion lek, causing the trade deficit to reach 34 billion lek.
The 10 products we sell or buy the most are mineral fuels, iron and steel, clothing items, vegetables, salt and lime, aluminum and its products. While we import the most vehicles, electric cars, medicines and plastic products.
The origin of the products that we mainly consume, wear or use are mainly Italian, Chinese or Turkish goods.
"For MIA products, they have come to a point where if they are not supported more strongly, we will risk losing these brands because the competition in the world market is great ," said Filip Gjoka, an exporter.
"Both Italy and Turkey are traditional partners of exports and imports. It is a significant decline and it is necessary to analyze some markets where business has sacrificed over the years to gain an important place ," said Florjan Zekja, an importer.
"It is difficult for companies that have been in the market for a long time to change suppliers," said Adi Haxhiymeri, an importer.
Trade with European Union countries also accounts for the largest share at around 60% of the total. The main trading partners in exports are Italy, Greece, China and Turkey, while the goods we import come mainly from Italy, China and Greece.
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