“As far as the types of products are concerned, in the period from 2012 until 2016, companies that operate in the processing industry occupied the biggest share of exports with an average level of 68.6%, INSTAT experts say. Meanwhile, during last year alone, processing industry exports occupied 80.4% of the total. This is a considerable value if we consider the fact that products belonging to other categories such as agriculture, account for only 20% of the total of exports.
However, agricultural products which are exported abroad have recently seen a significant increase.
What’s more, INSTAT explains that textile products account for 28.4% of the total of exports; processed leather accounts for 26.7% and basic metals account for 15.8% of the total. In the past year, they have seen an increase of 4%. Meanwhile, in total, the Institute of Statistics reports that exports have registered an increase of 4.5% during the period from 2012 until 2016. On the other hand, the number of exporting companies has increased on average by 7.2%, showing that more and more private businesses exerting their activity in Albania, are manufacturing their products with the aim of exporting them abroad.
Around 2.740 Albanian businesses export their products abroad
Around 2.740 private businesses which exert their activity in Albania, export their products abroad. This is confirmed by the Institute of Statistics, according to which, last year alone, “the number of exporting companies is 2.740 as opposed to 2.029 in 2012”. This confirms an average growth of 7.2% in the number of these companies. Compared to the previous year, 2015, INSTAT reports that this number has increased by 9.3%. On the other hand, the Institute of Statistics also reports other interesting facts which relate to businesses that export their products abroad. So, the Institute of Statistics points out that micro enterprises, small sized enterprises and medium sized enterprises, accounted for 95.9% of exporting companies for the period from 2012 until 2016. Meanwhile, last year, in 2016, these companies accounted for 96% of the total number of export companies. In other words, private businesses that export their products abroad are small companies and not large companies. “In 2016, the value of exports belonging to companies that operate in the sector of industry is 82,8% reflecting a 2.3% growth compared to 2015”, is another fact revealed by the Institute of Statistics.
MAP
Two thirds of Albanian exports go to the EU
Around two thirds of Albanian exports mainly go to the European Union countries. This is another phenomenon unfolded by the Institute of Statistics. According to INSTAT, “during the period from 2012 until 2016, the value of exports toward EU countries accounts on average for 76.6% of the total value”. Meanwhile, last year, in 2016, this indicator was 77.8%. INSTAT also reports that Italy was the country where most of the industrial products exported from Albania went, with 71.6% of the total. “Meanwhile, in the period from 2012 until 2016, as far as the number of companies is concerned, the highest average growth was registered by those companies exporting to China with 9.2%”, is another fact which is pointed out by the Institute of Statistics.
VICE-VERSA
Albania mainly exports commercial goods
Trade sector is the sector that dominates the import of goods. Such fact is confirmed by experts of the Institute of Statistics, according to whom, our country mainly imports retail and wholesale commercial goods.
“Import companies are dominated by those that operate in the trade sector, which include wholesale commercial activities, retail sale commercial activities and also retail and wholesale commerce of motor vehicles”, INSTAT says, adding the fact that for the period 2012-2016, the value of imports purchased by companies that operate in the trade sector, accounts for 54.4% of the value of imports. Referring to the same period, this indicator has seen an average growth of 0.2%. As far imports based on the partner countries is concerned, the Institute of Statistics reports that for the period from 2012 until 2016, the value of imports toward European Union member countries accounts on average for 34.7%, while in 2016, this indicator accounted for 31.9%. “The majority part of these imports from the EU member countries in 2016 is occupied by Italy with 60.7% with industrial products. Meanwhile, in the period from 2012 until 2016, in terms of the number of companies, imports from Turkey dominated with an average increase of 53.8%”, the Institute of Statistics reports.
