TIRANA (Albania), April 17 (SeeNews) – Albania's trade deficit increased by 5.6% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2019, reaching 76 billion leks ($686.6 million/607.8 million euro), the national statistical office said on Wednesday.
First-quarter exports fell 3.0% to 72 billion leks, while imports increased 1.2% to 148 billion leks, INSTAT said in a statement.
In March alone, Albania's trade deficit amounted to 28 billion leks, down 0.5% year-on-year.
Italy remained Albania's main trading partner during the January-March period of 2019, absorbing Albanian exports of 37.9 billion leks and providing imports to the country of 38.5 billion leks. Other major exporters to Albania were China, Greece and Turkey.
Albania exported mainly textile and footwear, minerals, fuels, electricity and construction materials and metals.
(1 euro=123.776 leks)