TIRANA, May 4 – Maritime transport recorded strong growth in the first quarter of 2026. Cargo volumes increased. Ship movements and passenger traffic also rose. These trends confirmed the key role of ports in the country’s economy.

According to data from INSTAT, Albania’s four main ports handled about 2.28 million tonnes of goods. These include Durrës, Vlora, Shëngjin, and Saranda. The figure marked a clear increase compared with the same period a year earlier.

The Port of Durrës remained the main maritime hub. It handled 95.2% of total cargo, or about 2.17 million tonnes. Compared with the first quarter of 2025, activity rose by 39.8%. This increase reflected stronger trade flows and improved logistics.

Meanwhile, other ports held a smaller share. Vlora processed 62,000 tonnes of goods. Shëngjin handled 40,000 tonnes. Saranda processed about 7,000 tonnes.

In terms of cargo structure, base metals and metal products led with 17.6%. Refined petroleum products followed with 14.3%. Coal, crude oil, and natural gas accounted for 12.7%. Non-metallic mineral products also held a notable share at 10.4%.

Ship traffic also increased during the same period. Ports recorded 265 vessel entries and exits. Of these, 248 were foreign ships. This figure rose by 28.6% compared with the first quarter of the previous year. It showed stronger international activity.

Passenger transport also increased. A total of 154,019 people travelled through maritime ports. Durrës handled 77.5% of passengers. Saranda followed with 14.4%. Vlora accounted for 8.1%.

In external trade, maritime transport reached 1.31 million tonnes of goods. This includes both exports and imports. The figure rose by 3.6% compared with the same period in 2025. Maritime exports accounted for 43.3% of total exports. Imports made up 65.1% of total imports.

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