In the first quarter of 2025, the economic gap between exports and imports in Kosovo widened significantly.

According to the Albanian Daily News, Albania exported goods worth 86.5 million euros to Kosovo during this period. In return, Kosovo’s exports to Albania amounted to only 29.2 million euros, resulting in a trade deficit of over 57 million euros in Albania’s favor.

These figures reflect a general trend in Kosovo’s foreign trade. According to the international news portal world.einnews.com, Kosovo’s total exports in the first quarter amounted to 191.7 million euros, while imports at 1.59 billion euros were almost eight times higher. The resulting trade deficit of around 1.4 billion euros is one of the highest the country has ever recorded in such a short period of time – a warning sign for economic policy planning.

According to the Albanian Daily News, the increase in goods imports from Serbia is particularly striking: in the first three months of 2025, Kosovo imported goods worth €51.7 million from its neighbor – double the figure for the same period last year, when the value was €25.7 million. Exports to Serbia, on the other hand, remained virtually unchanged at €10.6 million. This imbalance not only intensifies the political debate, but also economic dependence.

A similar pattern can be seen in trade with North Macedonia: Kosovo’s exports there amounted to €30.9 million, while imports reached €112.3 million, as summarized by the Albanian Daily News. Only in relation to Montenegro did Kosovo manage to achieve a positive balance, with €10.9 million in exports compared to €4.7 million in imports.

The data impressively demonstrates how difficult it is for Kosovo to maintain a healthy trade balance at present. Economic experts see this as a clear indication of structural challenges in the country, particularly in the areas of industrial production, export promotion, and regional competitiveness. The government in Pristina faces the task of creating a better balance through targeted support measures and international partnerships.