Albanian lek hits historic low as euro drops to 94.6 lek

The official exchange rate set by the Bank of Albania recorded a new historic low, with one euro trading at 94.62 lek. The decline, a 2.2% drop year‑to‑date and 3.5% lower than the same period last year, is attributed to seasonal tourism inflows, rising remittances and strong activity in the real‑estate sector. The central bank has continued to intervene by purchasing euros, having bought more than €2 billion in recent months, though the impact of these purchases is delayed in official reporting.

Foreign direct investment reached a record €404 million in the first quarter of 2026, driven largely by property development, while a budget surplus of €565 million (approximately 53.7 billion lek) has bolstered fiscal buffers. Inflation remains modest at around 3%, limiting the justification for further currency purchases. Market analysts expect the euro could slip to the low‑90s range as the summer tourism season progresses.