Businessman Artur Shehu breaks his silence: I am a long-time land owner in Zvërnec, I don't know the investors at all
Albanian businessman Artur Shehu spoke on the Opinion show...
Albanian businessman Artur Shehu spoke on the Opinion show...

Exports returned to an upward trend in February, after many consecutive months of decline, influenced by the favorable oil price conjuncture as well as energy exports as a result of rainfall.
The automotive support industry is also showing positive performance. Meanwhile, the largest group and main employer, textiles and footwear, has continued its downward trend. Food, beverages and tobacco also had negative performance, affected by floods, which damaged production in greenhouses.
According to INSTAT, in February 2026, exports of goods reached a value of 30.9 billion lekë, increasing by 2.8% compared to the same period a year earlier and by 15.8% compared to January 2026.
During February 2026, the growth of exports by 2.8% was positively influenced by the groups: “Minerals, fuels, electricity” with +6.3 percentage points and “Machinery, equipment and spare parts” with +0.7 percentage points. The groups that had a negative impact were: “Food, beverages, tobacco” with -2.1 percentage points, “Textiles and footwear” with -1.1 percentage points, “Construction materials and metals” with -0.9 percentage points, etc.
For the two-month period, the trend remains negative, as a result of the decline in sales abroad in January. According to INSTAT, for the period January-February 2026, exports were 57.7 billion lek, with a contraction of 0.7% on an annual basis. Again for the two-month period, the main positive impact was provided by minerals, fuel and energy and machinery and spare parts, while the most negative effect was from textiles, footwear and food.
The boss is not raising his head.
Exports from the clothing and footwear industry started the year with a decline as a result of several factors that are negatively affecting the industry this year as well. Florian Zekja from the ProEksport Association said that demand for goods, mainly workwear, has started weakly this year, affected by US tariffs and the contraction of the industry in Germany. Also, the shift of Italian investors to low-cost countries is creating a psychological effect on customers who are fleeing our country in search of cheaper costs. This trend continued in February. For the two-month period, sales of textiles and footwear fell to 16.7 billion lek, with a decrease of almost 5% compared to the same period a year ago.
In January, the increased minimum wage of 50 thousand lek also came into effect, from 40 thousand lek previously, with the tailoring sector being the sector most affected by this move, due to the increase in labor costs.
Textile and footwear exports continue to be the largest exporting group in the country with 29% of the total.
Minerals, fuels, energy, with strong growth
Grupi “Minerale. Lëndë djegëse, energji” ka eksportuar 8 miliardë lekë në shkurt 2026, me një rritje të fortë prej 31% me bazë vjetore. Përmirësmi është ndikuar si nga energjia, për shkak të eksporteve që u favorizuan nga moti me reshje, ashtu dhe nga nafta. Sipas “Bankers Petroleum”, që shfrytëzon me koncesion fushën naftëmbajtëse të Patos Marinzës, eksportet kanë qenë pozitive në shkurt, si rrjedhojë edhe e çmimit më të favorshëm. Për 2 mujorin, ky grup eksportoi 13.5 miliardë lekë, me një rritje prej 8.7%.
Ky grup është i dyti më i madh në vend, me 23.4% të totalit.
Ushqime pije e duhan ndikohen dukshëm nga përmbytjet
“Ushqime pije e duhan”, një nga grupet me ecurinë më të mirë vitet e fundit dhe një nga dy sektorët që ka shënuar rritje në 2025-n, e ka nisur negativisht 2026-n. Pas tkurrjes me 2% në janar, shitjet e ushqimeve jashtë vendit ranë me 14.4% në shkurt. Ecuria negative e këtij grupi është ndikuar kryesish nga përmbytjet e muajit janar, që ndikuan në prodhimin e serrave. Për dy mujorin, ky grup ka eksportuar 7.4 miliardë lekë, me një tkurrje prej 8.6%.
Materiale ndërtimi e metale me rënie më të lehtë
“Materialet e ndërtimit dhe metalet” e mbyllën vitin me një rënie prej 25.4%, më e thella nga të gjitha grupmallrat. Kjo tkurrje u ndikua nga mbyllja e aktivitetit të Kurum, prodhuesit të çelikut dhe një prej eksportuesve më të mëdhenj në vend, i cili nuk pritet të rifillojë aktivitetin për përpunimin e metaleve edhe për dy vjet deri sa të përfundojë investimi 150 milionë euro për prodhim çeliku të gjelbër në Zonën Industriale të Metalurgjikut në Elbasan, në bashkëpunim me Danieli Officine Meccaniche S.p.A.
Këtë vit, ritmet e rënies janë ngadalësuar. Për dy mujorin, eksportet ishin 7.8 miliardë lekë, me tkurrje prej 3.5% me bazë vjetore. Megjithatë, burime nga Kurum thanë se kompania nuk ka rifilluar ende eksportet.
Industria mbështetëse automotive, me ecurinë më pozitive këtë vit
“Makineri, pajisje, pjesë këmbimi” është grupi me ecurinë më pozitive në dy muajt e parë të vitit. Për periudhën janar-shkurt shitjet e tij arritën në 7 miliardë lekë, me një rritje prej gati 9.5%.
Ky grup, ku peshën kryesore e mban industria automotive është rimëkëmbur që në fund të vitit të kaluar kur kompanitë raportuan se porositë erdhën në rritje. Një pjesë e kompanive prodhojnë pjesë të thjeshta për makineri pune dhe mjete të mëdha transporti një segment që ka qenë në ecuri të qëndrueshme. Ndërkohë vendimi i KE për të lënë mjetet me djegie të brendshme përtej 2035 ne formë hibride, ndryshoi panoramën edhe për këtë vit ku porositë pritet të jenë në rritje. Presionet kryesore që kjo industri e vendosur në vendin tonë po kalon lidhen me fuqinë punëtore, zhvlerësimin e vazhdueshëm të euros pasi kontratat e tyre janë fikse disavjeçare dhe së treti rritja e beftë e pagës minimale në 50 mijë lekë.
Ulet deficiti në shkurt
According to INSTAT, in February 2026, exports of goods reached a value of 30.9 billion lek, increasing by 2.8% compared to the same period a year earlier and by 15.8% compared to January 2026. Imports of goods reached a value of 68.0 billion lek, increasing by 0.8% compared to a year earlier and by 17.6% compared to January 2026. The trade deficit for this month is 37.1 billion lek, decreasing by 0.8% compared to a year earlier and increasing by 19.2% compared to January 2026.
Exports increase with Kosovo and Germany
In February 2026, the countries with which Albania had the largest increase in exports, compared to February 2025 are: Kosovo (37.1%), Germany (34.7%), etc. While the countries with which exports had the largest decrease, are: Italy (5.1%), Spain (42.3%), etc. In February 2026, the countries with which Albania had the largest increase in imports, compared to February 2025 are: China (53.9%), Kosovo (36.5%), etc. While the countries with which imports had the largest decrease, are: Italy (5.5%), Turkey (20.7%), etc. Trade with EU countries accounts for 56.3% of all trade. In February 2026, exports to EU countries accounted for 70.3% of total exports and imports from EU countries accounted for 49.9% of total imports./ Monitor
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