Albania is rapidly increasing its dependence on China for goods, while imports from its historical partners, the EU and Turkey, were declining in 2025, according to official data from INSTAT.

Last year, total imports amounted to Lek 887.2 billion, a contraction of about 0.8%. This decrease came mainly from the contraction with the EU, which fell from Lek 460.2 billion or about 1.7% less compared to 2024.

On the other hand, imports from China increased significantly in 2025. They amounted to Lek 118.8 billion, an increase of 21.6% in just one year.

While the EU's share in the import structure is shrinking, China is playing an increasingly important role, accounting for around 13.4 percent of total imports in 2025, up from 10.9 percent in 2024.

The increase in Chinese imports occurred in a year when the overall value of imports was declining, indicating that it is becoming an increasingly dominant supplier to Albania.

More detailed data on trade with China show that machinery and equipment constitute the main item and have made the largest contribution to total growth. Imports of this group have increased from Lek 49,001 million in 2024 to Lek 59,334 million in 2025, an increase of over Lek 10.3 billion, or around 21%.

Construction materials show one of the strongest relative increases. They recorded a value of over Lek 19.1 billion or about 48.8% compared to 2024. Market sources claim that this group is dominated by imports of iron, which was previously imported from the EU and Turkey.

Textiles and footwear have experienced a significant increase from Lek 14.4 billion to Lek 15.9 billion (+9.6%).

Others have increased from Lek 8.8 billion to Lek 10 billion (+14.2%), reflecting a growth distributed across smaller import categories.

Chemical products from China also recorded a significant increase, +13.3%, while wood products and furniture over 25%.

Also, imports of food, beverages, and tobacco from China increased from Lek 1.7 billion to Lek 2.1 billion (+17.8%), indicating an increase in dependence on imports even for basic consumer goods.

Compared to before the pandemic, imports from China have almost doubled from Lek 59.7 billion in 2019 to Lek 118.8 billion in 2025.

The main reason is related to the price competition of goods from China compared to that of European markets.