TIRANA, Jan. 10 – The customs administration collected a record 121.28 billion lek (1.2 billion US dollars) in 2010, up 14.37 billion lek or 13.4 percent compared to 2009 registering the highest increase in the past three years, authorities said in a statement.
The collection rate is almost the same to what authorities expected for 2010, fulfilling 99 percent of the target of 122.59 billion lek.
Data show the customs administration managed to collect an additional 1.39 billion lek or 12.8 percent more in December 2010 year-on-year.
The situation was a result of a boom in exports and higher fuel and cigarette imports. Data show Albania exports grew 62.8 percent in volume and 100.3 percent in value during 2010.
The volume of exports rose to 2.38 billion tonnes, up from 1.46 billion tonnes in 2009 while their value to 75.3 billion lek or double the amount in 2009.
Customs clearance of excise goods also registered a significant increase for fuel and cigarettes despite rising prices.
Data show some 484,391 tonnes of fuel was cleared through customs in 2010, or 52, 260 tonnes more than in 2009.
Cigarette imports reached 4,500 tonnes, some 436 tonnes more than in 2009.
Meanwhile, re-exports, goods brought to Albania to be processed and then exported again, mainly dominated by the textile and footwear industry, more than doubled during 2010. Data show the volume of re-exports increased by 159.5 percent compared to 2009 when the footwear and garment industry suffered a crisis because falling demand in international markets. Their value also increased to 85.4 billion lek, up 30.8 percent compared to 2009.
INSTAT data show the textile and footwear industry was the main exporter in the January-November period with 51 billion lek followed by “minerals, fuel and electricity with 41.4 billion lek, accounting for 34 percent and 28 percent of total exports respectively.
EC on customs
Customs legislation in Albania is partly aligned with the acquis, said the European Commission in its latest report. IT capacity will need to be strengthened, with particular attention to interconnectivity and interoperability with the computerised systems of the EU. Overall, Albania still faces challenges in the areas of legislative alignment and administrative capacity, but should, in the medium term, have the capacity to comply with the requirements of the acquis, provided it continues its efforts, concludes the report.
