Exports increase in August

TIRANA, Sep. 29 – Albanian exports increased by 45 percent compared to one year ago, according to the Institute of Statistics.
During August 2007 there were reported exports of 6,559 million leks of commodities, or 45 percent more compared to a year ago, but 29.5 percent less than the previous month.
Also, there were imports of 29,199 million leks of commodities, or 24.9 percent more than a year ago or 4.9 percent less than July.
The trade deficit in August was 22,640 million leks, or 5.9 percent more than July and 20.1 percent more than a year ago.
Trade with EU countries was 58.4 percent with the main trading partners being Italy and Greece. Exports with Italy were 71.4 percent and imports were 34.5 percent, while with Greece exports were 12.2 percent and imports 30 percent.
Other partner countries which our exports and imports increased were: in exports, Austria, Russia, and in imports, Spain, Macedonia, Turkey.
The comparison with the previous month of some group commodities shows that:
Export of “Chemical and plastic products” increased 40.6 percent, “Minerals, fuels, electricity” increased 15.3 percent. While export of “Leather and leather manufacture” decreased 52.1 percent, “Textile and footwear” decreased 50.7 percent.
Import of group “Minerals, fuels, electricity” increased 54 percent. While import of group “Leather and leather manufacture” decreased 67.8 percent, “Textile and footwear” decreased 35.2 percent. In August 2007 the import of goods with excise taxes were 4,355 million leks, or 14.9 percent of the total import. The import of goods with excise taxes increased 16.9 percent, compared to a year ago. Oil fuel products were the main imported goods in this group of goods with excise taxes at 68.1 percent.