2026.06.2410:25:54UTC+00Kosovo Trade Gap Widens in May

Kosovo’s trade deficit widened to EUR 544.4 million in May 2026, from EUR 523.4 million in the same month a year earlier. Imports grew by 5.6% year-on-year to EUR 638.6 million, driven mainly by higher purchases of mineral products (15.2%), food, beverages and tobacco (12.6%), machinery, mechanical and electrical equipment (12.0%), and base metals and related articles (10.8%). The leading sources of imports were Germany (13.1%), Italy (8.8%), and Poland (4.1%).

Exports increased at a faster pace, rising 15.7% to EUR 94.1 million. This growth was supported by stronger shipments of base metals and related articles (27.5%), plastics, rubber and related products (11.1%), food, beverages and tobacco (10.7%), and miscellaneous manufactured goods (8.9%). Export growth was particularly notable to Germany (9.9%), Italy (4.9%), and the Netherlands (2.7%).

Over the first five months of 2026, Kosovo’s cumulative trade deficit widened to EUR 2,514.2 million, up from EUR 2,416.9 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.