High prices mask producers' difficulties, exports in quantity fell by 2.4% in the 2nd month of 2023

The exchange rate, rising costs and negative demographic developments are negatively affecting the competitiveness of the Albanian economy.

After the effect that high prices are creating on the value of Albanian exports, their quantity is decreasing.

Detailed data from INSTAT show that in the first two months of January-February 2023, exports in value increased by 11.3%, but in quantity they decreased by 2.4%.

In 2 months, 565,607 tons of goods were exported from 579,530 tons in the same month of 2022.

The decline was created by cement exports with about 7.8 percent less than last year, which together with lime and salts are the second largest group in terms of export volumes.

Minerals, the fourth largest group of exports in terms of quantity, recorded an annual decrease of 42%. The group of wooden articles also shrank by about 36% and aluminum by 12%.

The export of medicinal plants is also in trouble. This group, which experienced a significant increase during the Covid-19 pandemic, has now returned to decrease, with a 25.5% decrease for January-February 2023.

Fertilizers that last year experienced an unusual increase in re-exports to Kosovo, at the beginning of the year have been corrected with a decrease due to the increase in demand from the local market.

On the other hand, the export of the "Mineral fuels" group marked a significant increase by 30 percent compared to January-February 2022. This group is dominated by domestic oil exports. The third group with the largest volume of export "Giza and steel" recorded an increase of 22%.

Greens also experienced a 10% increase in export volume, as a result of a good winter season where the production and exports of cucumbers did not stop for a moment.

The fruit group has also experienced a significant increase in exports, a trend that started in 2022. In the first 2 months, exports in this group increased by 24.5%.

Albanian exporters have raised complaints about the high costs that are coming from the minimum wage, the negative effects of the devaluation of the euro and the lack of labor.

All three of these elements are hitting the production sector, which is based on the activity of free labor./ Monitor