Dependence on foreign products increases, food imports rise by 16% in January–April

Food imports saw a significant increase during the first four months of 2026, including products that Albania has all the capacity and favorable climate conditions to produce domestically.

According to official data from INSTAT, the total volume of food imports rose by 16.1% in January–April 2026 compared to the same period last year.

The main concern is that Albania is increasingly failing to meet its own demand for basic food and agricultural products through domestic production, at a time when the growing number of tourists should represent a major opportunity to boost local output.

Specifically, vegetable imports increased by 14.0%, followed by fruits and edible nuts, which recorded an 11.0% rise. Imports of dairy products, eggs, and honey also grew by 10.0%.

This trend suggests that instead of consuming fresh produce from Albanian farmers, local consumers are increasingly spending their money on imported goods, effectively supporting the agricultural sectors of other countries while undermining Albania’s own production potential.

Beyond fresh produce, the expansion of imports has been even more pronounced in other areas of the food and agricultural industry. The sharpest increase was recorded in oilseeds and industrial or medicinal plants, whose imports surged by 140.3%.

Grain imports also rose by 30.3%. Adi Haxhiymeri, one of Albania’s largest grain importers, said that purchases from abroad accelerated following the conflict in Iran, driven by concerns over potential supply disruptions and rising prices.

“KORÇA BOOM”