BRAVE / Albanian government saves black American at the last moment!

 Kliko këtu për të tjera
Voxpress:

Euro "destroys" fashion, exports fall 14% in May, factories are closing, employees are out of work

2026-06-17 18:10:16Biznes SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

After a strong increase in April (16.9%), exports slowed significantly in May, expanding by 2.8% in May, according to INSTAT data.

The sector with the most negative performance in May was the textile and footwear sector, which works with the fason system (made-to-order material), which recorded a double-digit contraction of 14.2%, the strongest this year. Meanwhile, the most positive performance was recorded by construction materials, machinery and equipment, and food products.

According to INSTAT, in May 2026, exports of goods reached a value of 32.7 billion lek, increasing by 2.8% compared to the same period a year earlier and decreasing by 6.3% compared to April 2026.

During May 2026, the growth of exports by 2.8% was positively influenced by the groups: “Food, beverages, tobacco” with +3.3 percentage points, “Construction materials and metals” with +2.2 percentage points, “Machinery, equipment and spare parts” with +1.1 percentage points. The groups were negatively influenced by: “Textiles and footwear” with -4.3 percentage points, “Wood and paper products” with -0.3 percentage points, etc.

For the five-month period, the trend continued to be positive. According to INSTAT, for the period January-May 2026, exports were 158 billion lek, with an increase of 4.5% on an annual basis (from 4.9% which was the expansion in April). Even for the five-month period, the main positive impact was provided by minerals, fuel and energy, construction materials and machinery and spare parts, while the most negative effect was from textiles and footwear and food.

The economy is "destroyed" by the euro

Exports from the clothing and footwear industry have been declining for consecutive months. In May, the decline deepened, with exports falling by 14.2%. For the entire 5-month period, exports were 42 billion lek, a contraction of 7.3% (-3.3 billion lek), the strongest of all groups.

According to exporters, the main reason is related to the decline of the euro. The common currency fell to a historic low in May, reaching around 95 lekë, and then in June it fell below this level.

The second reason, according to Florjan Zekja, from the Pro Export Association, is the war, which has made it difficult to import raw materials and costs. Demand from Europe is also declining. Given the lack of prospects, Zekja said that many factories are closing and are looking for other business prospects. He says that a study by the Bank of Albania has shown that 16.5 thousand employees have been laid off, but the estimate is that their number is higher.

Textile and footwear exports continue to be the largest exporting group in the country with 26.7% of the total.

Energy and fuels increase

The "Minerals. Fuels, Energy" group exported 5.7 billion lek in May 2026, with an increase of 5.9% on an annual basis, after the strong expansion of 54% in April, which came from favorable prices on the stock exchanges.

Food, beverages and tobacco return to strong growth

"Food, beverages and tobacco," one of the best-performing groups in recent years and one of the two sectors to record growth in 2025, improved in May, increasing exports by 17.5%. For the five-month period, the group expanded by 2.1%.

Building materials and metals with growth

“Building materials and metals” closed 2025 with a 25.4% decline, the deepest of all commodity groups. However, in March-May, the group returned to growth, expanding by 16% in May. For the five-month period, exports increased by 12%.

Automotive support industry, with the most positive performance this year

"Machinery, equipment, spare parts" is the group with the most positive performance in the first four months of the year. For the period January-May, its sales reached 18.3 billion lek, with an increase of 11.2%.

This group, where the automotive industry holds the main weight, has been recovering since the end of last year when companies reported that orders increased. Some companies produce simple parts for work machinery and large transport vehicles, a segment that has been performing steadily.

Meanwhile, the EC's decision to leave internal combustion vehicles beyond 2035 in hybrid form has changed the outlook for this year as well, with orders expected to increase. The main pressures that this industry, located in our country, is experiencing are related to the workforce, the continuous depreciation of the euro as their contracts are fixed for several years, and thirdly, the sudden increase in the minimum wage to 50 thousand lek.

Trade deficit increases

In May 2026, exports of goods reached 32.7 billion lek, increasing by 2.8% compared to the same period a year earlier and decreasing by 6.3% compared to April 2026.

Imports of goods reached 80.9 billion lek, increasing by 4.1% compared to a year earlier and by 2.4% compared to April 2026. This month's trade deficit is 48.2 billion lek, increasing by 5.1% compared to a year earlier and by 9.3% compared to April 2026.

Performance of trade in goods by partner countries In May 2026, the countries with which Albania had the greatest increase in exports, compared to May 2025, are: Kosovo (3.9%), Greece (5.2%), etc.

While the countries with which exports have had the largest decline are: Italy (7.9%), Germany (0.6%), etc.

In May 2026, the countries with which Albania had the largest increase in imports, compared to May 2025, are: Italy (12.2%), China (29.2%), etc. While the countries with which imports had the largest decrease are: Germany (11.3%), Spain (18.8%), etc.

Trade with EU countries accounts for 56.5% of all trade. In May 2026, exports to EU countries account for 66.1% of total exports and imports from EU countries account for 52.6% of total imports. /Monitor


Në përputhje me standarded JTI

Video

SHIKO KANALIN NE YOUTUBE
×