Trade deficit increases 7.1% y/y in February

During February of 2009 7,511 million ALL were traded in commodities, increasing 13.1 percent compared with January of 2009 and decreasing 14.9 percent compared with February of 2008. There was 33,389 million ALL imported in commodities increasing 19.9 percent compared with January of 2009 and increasing 1.2 percent from the previous year. This month the trade deficit was 25, 878 million ALL marking an increase of 22.1 percent compared to January 2009 an increase of 7.1 percent compared to February of 2008. Trade with EU countries counted for 67.4 percent. The main trade partners remain Italy and Greece. Exports to Italy were 65.3 percent and the imports 25.6 percent, while exports to Greece were 9.7 percent and the imports 16.3 percent.
Some of the Albanian partners that have marked an increase in trade are: Greece, Italy, China, Spain, USA in exports; and Austria, Greece, Germany, Italy, Switzerland in imports. Some commodities have seen an increase in exports compared to January. “Minerals, fuels, electricity” increased 2.6 times, “Leather and leather manufactures” increased 19.2 percent, “Machinery equipment spare parts” increased 15.4 percent, “Construction materials and metals” increased 4.4 percent, etc. Import of “Chemical and plastics” increased 36.6 percent, “Construction materials and metals” increased 34.8 percent, “Food, beverages, tobacco” increased 22.3 percent, etc. While import of group “Minerals, fuels, electricity” decreased 1.3 percent, etc. In February 2009, the import of goods with excise is 3,046 million ALL or 9.1 percent of the total import. During this month, the import of goods with excise increased by 1.9 percent, compared with January of 2009. Oil fuel products are the main imported goods in the group of goods with excise, counting for 62.8% of the category.