Western Balkans electricity trade with EU declines in Q3 2026

Electricity trade between the Western Balkans and the European Union fell by 14.3% in the third quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to a report by the Energy Community Secretariat. While scheduled commercial exchanges grew by 9% compared to the second quarter of 2026, the overall volume remains below 2025 levels.

The report notes that the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which entered into force on January 1, 2026, is one factor influencing market movements. However, the Secretariat stated that changes in prices and cross-border exchanges are also shaped by generation, demand, available cross-border capacity, and regional market conditions.

Regional power exchanges saw an increase in day-ahead market volumes. Notable shifts included an 80% increase in scheduled electricity exports from Montenegro to Italy. Despite these fluctuations, the Western Balkans remained a net scheduled importer. Price differences exceeding 20 euros per megawatt-hour were recorded during more than half of the hours at borders with EU markets, indicating continued market divergence.