Albania Kosovo’s top export destination, China its largest source of imports

Kosovo imported goods worth more than €6.3 billion between January and October 2026, while exports reached €960 million, according to official data from Kosovo Customs.

Imports increased by 8.5 percent compared with the same period in 2025, when the value of imported goods stood at €5.81 billion, KosovaPress reports.

Exports recorded a more pronounced percentage increase. From €774.8 million in the first ten months of last year, they rose to €960 million in 2026, representing growth of 23.9 percent.

Nevertheless, the gap between imports and exports remains substantial. Kosovo’s trade deficit for the January–October 2026 period reached €5.34 billion, compared with €5.04 billion in the same period a year earlier.

According to monthly data, July recorded the highest level of imports in 2026, at €716.7 million, followed by October with €694.9 million and June with €676.3 million.

The highest value of exports was recorded in October, at €124.2 million, compared with €91.8 million in the same month of 2025.

In January 2026, imports were worth €423.5 million and exports €60.2 million. Foreign trade fluctuated over the following months, but imports remained significantly higher than exports in every month.

Despite the increase in exports, Kosovo remains heavily dependent on imported goods, while its trade deficit, expressed in absolute terms, has widened further compared with the previous year.

China overtakes Germany as largest source of imports

In terms of the origin of goods, China moved into first place among Kosovo’s import partners during the first ten months of 2026, overtaking Germany, which had ranked first during the same period last year.

The value of goods imported from China reached €879.4 million, compared with €773 million between January and October 2025. Germany ranked second with €838.6 million, while Turkey was third with €740.3 million.

They were followed by Italy with €354.9 million, North Macedonia with €314.4 million, Greece with €309.5 million, Poland with €242.1 million, the United States with €240.9 million, Albania with €225.2 million and Serbia with €195.3 million.

Unlike imports, which are dominated by China, Germany and Turkey, Kosovo’s exports continue to be directed primarily toward regional markets.

Albania remained Kosovo’s leading export destination, with exports worth €182 million during the first ten months of 2026, compared with €130.7 million during the same period a year earlier.

North Macedonia ranked second with €148.6 million, followed by Germany with €94.4 million and Switzerland with €92.2 million.

The ten leading export destinations also included Serbia with €61.4 million, Montenegro with €50.6 million, Turkey with €36.4 million, Italy with €31.4 million, the Netherlands with €28.3 million and Bulgaria with €21.8 million.

Albania and North Macedonia alone accounted for approximately 34.4 percent of the total value of Kosovo’s exports, while China, Germany and Turkey together accounted for around 39 percent of total imports.

Over the whole of 2025, from January through December, Kosovo recorded its highest-ever level of imports, reaching €7.11 billion.