Despite encouraging trends, economic relations between Kosovo and Albania have not yet reached a satisfactory level. Although businesspeople show willingness and readiness for stronger economic cooperation, relations between the two countries remain largely symbolic or are characterized mainly by import–export trade, KosovaPress reports.
Nevertheless, despite a slight increase in Kosovo’s exports to Albania, the trade balance throughout the 2022–2025 period remains significantly negative, with Albanian imports continuing to dominate the structure of exchanges.
Thus, the gap between imports and exports continues to be an open economic challenge.
Kosovo still has a negative trade balance with Albania, even though the value of exported goods has increased.
According to the Kosovo Customs, for 2025, the country’s exports to Albania, from January to November 26 of this year, reached around €143 million, while imports from Albania amounted to €259 million.
Kosovo Customs told KosovaPress that in 2022, Kosovo’s exports to Albania were around €102 million, rising moderately to €115 million in 2023.
However, 2024 brought a leap, with exports increasing to almost €248 million, more than double the value in the first year of the analyzed period.
Meanwhile, imports of goods from Albania in 2022 reached around €255 million, rising significantly to €326 million in 2023 and peaking at €337 million in 2024.
In 2025, imports so far are estimated at approximately €259 million—a high level, considering that the data do not include December.
TOP 10 Products Exported from Kosovo to Albania
KosovaPress obtained a list from Kosovo Customs of the main goods exported to Albania. The list is led by mineral fuels and energy derivatives, which reached over €153 million during the past four years. They are followed by the beverage and alcohol sector (€87.5 million), as well as metallurgy (lime, steel, aluminum, and plastic), showing the growth of Kosovo’s industrial capacities and the expansion of value-added industries.
Products such as furniture, machinery, live animals, and vegetable/animal oils complete the list, reflecting a broader diversification of Kosovo’s export portfolio.
TOP 10 Products Imported from Albania to Kosovo
On the other hand, Kosovo mainly imports strategic and mass-consumption products. Leading the list are lime and steel, worth over €328 million, followed by mineral fuels (€261 million). These products are vital for the construction, energy, and infrastructure sectors.
A significant component of Albanian imports also includes agricultural products—vegetables (€51.7 million) and fruits (€40.1 million)—demonstrating Albania’s role as a primary supplier of fresh agro-food products to the Kosovo market.
Goods such as chemical salts, organic extracts, aluminum, paper, and cardboard complete the list, reflecting strong foundations in Albania’s processing and agro-industrial sectors.
