Air and sea transport activity increased in the third quarter compared to the same period last year. In contrast, only 782 passengers used rail transport. INSTAT data show that the Port of Saranda surpassed Durrës in passenger numbers in Q3 2025.

Air transport

In air transport, 31 airlines operated, including 30 foreign companies and one Albanian carrier. A total of 139,923 flights crossed Albanian airspace, with 83.6% accounting for overflights.

Air cargo volume, including mail, reached 714.3 tons, of which 78.5% were imports and 21.5% exports. Passenger traffic grew by 10.1%, reaching 3,892,761 passengers, compared to 3,534,751 in Q3 2024. Air cargo trade (imports and exports) totaled 581 tons, up 25.6% from the previous year. Imported air cargo accounted for 0.03% of total imports.

Ports and sea transport

Albania has four main commercial ports: Durrës, Vlora, Shëngjin, and Saranda. The Port of Durrës handled 95% of sea cargo, totaling 2,135 thousand tons, marking a 17.5% increase from Q3 2024.

The main cargo groups were:

• “Coke and refined petroleum” – 19.3%

• “Base metals and fabricated metal products” – 15.8%

• “Other mineral products (non-metallic)” – 13.7%

• “Coal, crude oil, and natural gas” – 6.5%

Passenger traffic at ports reached 1,010,888 people. Saranda accounted for 49.2%, Durrës 40.8%, and Vlora 10%. Sea cargo trade totaled 1,467 thousand tons, up 5.6% from Q3 2024. Exports accounted for 32.2% and imports 65.8% of total cargo.

Rail transport

Rail cargo volume reached 156.2 thousand tons, up 13.7% from Q3 2024. The main cargo types were:

• “Coal, crude oil, natural gas” – 75.8%

• “Recycled raw materials and solid waste” – 23.2%

• “Base metals and fabricated metal products” – 1%

Only 782 passengers used rail transport, marking a 62.9% decline from the same period last year./Monitor/