Exports increased in January

Although for only one month, a period that is not sufficient to be taken as reference, the figures show that exports increased with 34.6% compared to the same period of one year ago. INSTAT says that the strong increase is due to the boom in mineral and electricity exports.

Manufacturing exports also increased with 12% and construction materials with 21%. The tendency in imports is the contrary. According to INSTAT, imports in January kept plunging with a higher pace than last year.

Imports are 8% lower than last year, warning for a lower consumption in the domestic market. Besides the consumption goods, there is a decreased import in machineries and equipments, which are the main indicator for the progressing of investments.

The hesitation of the Albanian business to invest could be related with the stalemate created by the fiscal policy of our government. In December 2012, the Parliament passed some facilitating measures such as VAT removal for machineries and equipments. But although two months have passed and have been mentioned several times by the Prime Minister, they have not entered in effect since the government itself is blocking the sub-legal acts. This has caused a hesitation situation in the market that stops investments and damages production.

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