Nearly 80 percent of Albanian products go to EU markets

TIRANA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Around 80 percent of Albanian exports headed to European market during 2017, reaching a total value of 210.5 billion leks (1.93 billion U.S. dollars), Albania's institute of statistics said Friday.

On annual terms, Albania's exports towards European Union countries saw an 11 percent growth in 2017 as compared to 2016.

Meanwhile, according to INSTAT annual report, trade exchanges with EU countries make up 66.3 percent of all trade volume in 2017.

Albania's main trading partners remain the neighboring countries such as Italy, Greece and Turkey, with Italy remaining the principal trading partner.

Albania's exports to Italy amounted to 146 billion leks in 2017, mainly exporting textiles and footwear.