Kosovo and Greece were among the main contributors to Albania’s export growth in September 2026, while the European Union retained its dominant position in the country’s foreign trade, accounting for 54.6% of total trade.

According to foreign trade data, Albanian exports to Kosovo rose by 22.5% in September compared with the same month in 2025. Exports to Greece increased by 13.9%. However, data from INSTAT, Albania’s national statistics institute, showed that exports to Italy fell by 4%, while shipments to Switzerland declined by 3.8%.

On the import side, Turkey and Greece recorded the largest annual increases, at 6.8% and 3.8%, respectively. Imports from Italy fell by 14.1%, while those from China dropped by 7%. EU countries continued to represent a major market for Albanian products. In September, Albania sent 68.7% of its total exports to EU member states, while 48.9% of its imports came from the bloc.

Overall, trade with the European Union accounted for 54.6% of Albania’s foreign trade during the month. Total exports reached 31.2 billion lek, up 14.8% year on year and 52.1% from August. Imports stood at 78.6 billion lek, marking an annual increase of 4.8%. Meanwhile, the trade deficit narrowed by 0.9% compared with September 2025 and by 13.9% from the previous month, falling to 47.3 billion lek.