Albania sees sharp rise in food imports amid inflation and tourism cost pressures

Albania's food imports grew 14% year‑on‑year in the first half of 2026, reaching about 716,000 tonnes, according to INSTAT data. The biggest jump came from Croatia, where imports rose from 4,200 to 26,400 tonnes – a 526% increase – accounting for roughly a quarter of the total growth. Imports also surged from Moldova, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Montenegro, while Kosovo remained a key regional supplier.

At the same time, Albania faces an inflation dilemma. Consumer price inflation stands at 3.2% and the lek has strengthened to 92.5 lek per euro, down from 97.7 lek a year earlier. A stronger currency helps contain import‑driven price rises but makes tourism 8% more expensive for visitors and reduces earnings for exporters. The Bank of Albania must balance tightening monetary policy to curb inflation against the risk of hurting tourism and export competitiveness.