Kosovo's foreign trade, 245.5m euros deficit during September

Kosovo Statistics Agency (ASK) has published data regarding export and import flows for September of this year, where data points to a lower trade deficit for -4.5% in September, in proportion to the same period in 2019, worth 245.5m euros, compared to the deficit of 257.2m euros in 2019.

According to the AKS, export covers import by 14.5%.

“Export of goods in September 2020 was worth 41.7m euros, while imports of 287.2m euros, which is an 8.6% increase for export, and a drop of -2.8% per import, compared to the same period in 2019. According to key export data: 23.7% of exports make up basic metals and articles; 13.5% of exports make up plant products; 133% of exports make up different products produced; 12.7% of exports make up plastics, tires and articles; 9.6% of exports make up prepared foods, drinks and tobacco; 6.8% of exports and minerals; 4.6% of exports and made up machinery, mechanical and electrical equipment; 4.5% of exports and text made up of it; and others. While, according to key group data for import: 13.3% make up machinery, mechanical and electrical equipment; 12.0% make up basic metals and articles; 113% make up the means of transportation; 11.1% make up prepared foods, drinks and tobacco; 9.5% make up minerals; 7.9% make up chemical industry products; 7.8% make up plastics, tires and items from them, etc. Kosovo exports to EU countries reached 15.3m euros, or about 36.8% of total exports, with an increase of 19.2%. The main partners for export of goods to the EU were: Germany (13.3%), Great Britain (3.7%), the Netherlands (3.3%), etc.”, says in the report.

The AKS explains that Kosovo imports from EU countries stood at around 119.5m euros, or 41.6% of total imports, with a drop of -16.0%.

“Imports with the highest turnout were from: Germany (13.3%), Italyė5.0%), Poland (3.2%), Greece (2.6%), etc. In September 2020, Kosovo's exports with CEFTA countries reached 18.5m euros, or 44.6% of total exports, with a 15.9% increase. Key export partners from CEFTA countries were: Albania (15.6%), Northern Macedonia (10.5%), Serbia (9.5%), and Montenegro (7.3%). While, imports from CEFTA countries reached 62.4m euros, or 21.7% of total imports, with an increase of 46.7%. The countries with the highest share in import was: Albania (7.2%), Serbia (6.6%) and Northern Macedonia (5.8%). Kosovo exports with other countries of the world reached 7.7m euros, or 18.6%. As more important partners from these export countries, it's worth mentioning: US (8.6%), Switzerland (7.1%). In contrast, Kosovo's imports with other countries in the world amounted to 105.2m euros, or 36.6%”, it says in the survey.

Countries with the highest share in import in this group were Turkey with 12.3% and China with 10.1%.