TIRANA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The value of exports in Albania in the first half of 2019 was 152 billion Albanian lek (about 1.4 million U.S. dollars), decreasing by 3.7 percent year-on-year, the data published on Wednesday by the state statistics institute (INSTAT) showed.
According to INSTAT, in the first six months of 2019 the value of imports was 318 billion Albanian lek, registering an increase by 2.6 percent. In this period the trade deficit was 165 billion Albanian lek, increasing by 9.2 percent year-on-year.
The main groups that had the biggest influence in the annual decrease of exports are minerals, fuels, electricity by 4.5 percent, construction materials and metals by 1.8 percent, and textile and footwear by 0.7 percent.
In regard to imports, the groups that had a positive effect in the annual increase of imports, are minerals, fuels, electricity by 2.7 percent, construction materials and metals by 0.9 percent and food, beverages, tobacco by 0.2 percent.
In this period, according to INSTAT data, the countries with which Albania has had the highest increase of exports year-on-year are Germany and North Macedonia, respectively by 2.8 and 4.2 percent, whereas the countries that registered a decrease of exports are Italy, Spain and Greece.
Moreover, INSTAT data showed that in the first six months of 2019, the countries with which Albania has had the highest increase of imports are China by 22.5 percent, Greece by 10.2 percent and Turkey by 6.5 percent. A decrease of imports in this period was registered with Italy, Germany and Spain. (1 U.S. dollar =108.88 Albanian lek)
