Albania's consolidated budget was in surplus of Lek 49.1 billion (Dollar 605 million/Euro 514.4 million) in the first quarter, higher than the Lek 33.8 billion surplus recorded in the same period of last year, the Finance Ministry said on Tuesday.

Consolidated budget revenue rose 13.3% year-on-year to Lek 205.1 billion in the three months through March, while expenditures increased by 5.9% to Lek 156 billion, the Finance Ministry said in a statement, quoting preliminary figures.

Tax and customs revenues totaled Lek 130.6 billion, 5.8% higher than in the first quarter of 2025.

Revenues from VAT on imports, for the period January-March 2026, amounted to Lek 35.3 billion, or with a realization of 95.4% of the plan for the quarterly period 2026.

Revenues from excise, for the period January-March 2026, were realized in the amount of Lek 14.9 billion, 2.5% more than the quarter of 2025, as well as the realization of 96.6% of the plan for the quarter of 2026.

Revenues from customs duties amounted to Lek 2.2 billion, 9% more than in the same quarter of the previous year. Tax revenues collected by the tax administration amounted to Lek 77.7 billion, 10.1% year-on-year.

Revenues from VAT collected (net) were realized in the amount of Lek 25.2 billion, 19.4% more than in the first quarter of 2025.

Revenues collected from profit tax were realized in the amount of Lek 19.6 billion, 12.7% more than in the first quarter of 2025. Revenues from personal income tax, for the period January-March 2026, are in the amount of Lek 21.8 billion, 4.8% more than the first quarter of 2025.

Revenues from national taxes, for the period January-March 2026, were realized in the amount of Lek 11.2 billion or 97.6% of the plan for the first quarter of 2026.

Albania's consolidated budget recorded a deficit of Lek 47.1 billion in 2025, after ending 2024 with a deficit of Lek 18.3 billion.