On average, Albania has ten importing companies for every exporting company - the highest ratio among the five Western Balkan economies the World Bank analysed.

This gap is much wider than in Serbia, where there are only 1.5 importers per exporter; meanwhile, the ratio is three-to-one in North Macedonia, four-to-one in Kosovo, and five-to-one in Montenegro, local business news provider Monitor reported.

These findings appear in the World Bank’s October 2026 report, "From Market Entry to Survival: Trade Logistics and Export Performance in the Western Balkans," which examines the structure of foreign trade in Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

"Although importers outnumber exporters, the number of exporting companies has been steadily increasing across the Western Balkan economies," the report states.

According to the World Bank, companies engaged exclusively in imports account for an average of about 90% of the entities participating in international trade in Albania - compared to 79% in Montenegro, 77% in Kosovo, 65% in North Macedonia, and 45% in Serbia. Conversely, companies engaged exclusively in exports account for less than 10% of trading entities in most of the countries analyzed - with the exception of Serbia, where their share reaches an average of 21%.

The World Bank notes that Kosovo has experienced the most rapid expansion in the number of exporters, with a more than threefold increase compared to the base year, particularly following 2015. Albania, Serbia, and North Macedonia have seen more modest growth, ranging from approximately 15% to 30% over their respective periods of analysis.

Differences are also evident in the average value of trade activity. In Albania, an exporting company generated an average of USD 1.04M in exports in 2023, while an importing company recorded an average of USD 150,000 in imports. "The average annual trade value for exporters in Albania is nearly eight times higher than that of importers," the World Bank points out, referring to the average over the period analyzed.

The report also highlights the role of companies that engage in both imports and exports. Although they represent a relatively small share of trading entities, they account for an average of 95% of the total export value in the region. According to the World Bank, the share of these companies in the value of exports fluctuates between 90% and 99%, with their presence having increased notably in Serbia and Kosovo. In Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, their share in the total number of business entities has remained relatively stable. The study draws on customs data from 2017–2023 for Albania, while using different reference periods for the other economies.