The rapid expansion of tourism is creating an ever larger market for food, but domestic production is not managing to capitalize on this demand to the same extent. The main beneficiaries are turning out to be importers.
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In the first seven months of 2026, Albania imported about 606.4 thousand tons of food products, up from 537.4 thousand tons in the same period last year. The imported quantity expanded by about 69 thousand tons, or 12.8%, according to foreign trade data.
The increase was widespread across most product groups. Of the 20 main groups of food and agricultural products, 16 recorded growth in imported quantities.
The data show that the growth in demand from tourism, restaurants, and accommodation facilities is not being accompanied by a sufficient expansion of domestic production.
Instead of the new demand translating into more sales for Albanian farms, an increasingly larger share of it is being met from abroad.
This development is taking place at a time when tourism activity continues to expand. In June 2026, the number of visitors accommodated in tourist facilities increased by 17% compared to a year earlier.
Non-resident visitors rose by 20.6%, while their overnight stays increased by 9.2%, according to INSTAT.
In the first six months of the year, about 5.1 million foreign nationals entered Albania, 6.2% more than in the same period of 2025.
Although arrivals do not represent only tourists, they indicate the rise in the temporary population that consumes in the country, especially during the summer season.
Cereals accounted for 65% of the increase
Cereals made the main contribution to the expansion of food imports. In January–July 2026, around 239.3 thousand tons of cereals were imported, up from 194.4 thousand tons a year earlier.
The increase was around 44.9 thousand tons, or 23.1%. Cereals alone accounted for 39.5% of all imported food quantities and about 65% of the annual increase.
Partly, cereal imports are used as raw material for the food industry and animal feed, however, the import growth is not limited to cereals.
Vegetable imports rose by 4.5 thousand tons, or 11.1%, reaching 45.5 thousand tons. Imported fruit and nut quantities reached 64.7 thousand tons, an increase of 5.1%.
Imports of meat and edible offal rose by 4.9%, to 28.1 thousand tons, while dairy products, eggs, and honey increased by 6.8%, to 21.6 thousand tons.
Strong growth was also recorded in live animals, up 19%; products of the milling, malt, and starch industry, up 14.2%; prepared food from meat and fish, up 17.9%; preparations of cereals, flour, and milk, up 8.6%; and cocoa and cocoa preparations, up 19.6%.
In July alone, the group “Food, beverages, and tobacco” contributed 0.8 percentage points to the growth of the country’s total imports.
Domestic production is not keeping pace with demand
The latest annual data show that some of the main branches of agriculture and livestock are facing contraction or insufficient growth to cover demand.
In 2025, domestic wheat production fell by 10.1%, while potato production dropped by 7.2%. Vegetable production grew by only 1.5%, much less than the 11.1% increase in imported quantities during the 7-month period of 2026. Official agricultural data show that the domestic market is not expanding at the same pace as demand.
The situation is similar in livestock. During 2025, the number of sheep fell by 0.9%, goats by 7.4%, pigs by 28.2%, and poultry by 0.5%.
Milk production decreased, while egg production fell by 5.8%. Only meat production in live weight increased by 2.5%, according to livestock statistics.
These developments highlight the weakness of the link between tourism and agriculture. Hotels and restaurants require continuous supply, guaranteed quantities, consistent standards, and regular deliveries.
Albanian agriculture, fragmented into small farms and with deficiencies in collection, storage, and distribution, is failing to ensure this supply throughout the season.
Consequently, as tourism expands the consumer market, the impact on domestic agricultural production remains limited. The growth in demand is reflected more quickly at customs than on Albanian farms./Monitor.al
