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.

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

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The Kosovo Energy Corporation has responded to criticism and comparisons concerning the agreement to sell coal to North Macedonia, clarifying that this contract and electricity imports are two separate processes.

The agreement is a three-year deal signed with North Macedonia’s power utility, JSC ESM, with a value that could reach €73.2 million.

KEK has emphasized that it is not the institution that determines the timing or volume of electricity imported to supply consumers.

“KEK is not the company that decides when and how much electricity is imported to supply consumers. For this reason, comparing the contract’s value of up to €73.2 million with expenditure on electricity imports does not constitute an analysis of the profitability of this agreement,” the Corporation said in its response.

According to KEK, its main activities are coal extraction and electricity generation, while supplying consumers is the responsibility of the company licensed for this function.

The Corporation said that electricity for universal supply is provided at a price of around €29.5 per megawatt-hour. To produce one megawatt-hour, the Kosovo A power plant uses approximately 1.5 tons of coal, while Kosovo B uses around 1.3 tons.

However, KEK underscored that this price cannot be directly compared with the market price of electricity or with the value of coal sales.

The new contract stipulates that ESM will buy the coal at €24.4 per ton, excluding VAT, and that this price will remain unchanged for 36 months.

KEK recalled that in previous periods, coal was sold through private intermediary companies, often at much lower prices. In some cases, the price was around €8 per ton, even though ESM was the ultimate beneficiary.

“Under the current agreement, KEK sells directly to JSC ESM, without intermediaries and at a price of €24.4 per ton, ensuring that the financial benefit from this commercial relationship remains directly with KEK,” the response said.

According to the Corporation, coal exports will not affect the supply of the power plants or domestic electricity production. The buyer will be responsible for excavation, transportation and other logistical processes.

Meanwhile, KEK is implementing an investment plan worth around €500 million. The plan includes the rehabilitation of generating units, the modernization of mining capacities, and improvements in environmental performance and safety.

The Corporation estimates that the revenue generated by the agreement could contribute to its financial stability and increase its opportunities for investment.

“Criticism is legitimate, and transparency is essential for every public enterprise. But the debate must be based on facts, institutional responsibilities and an analysis of the specific terms of the contract,” KEK said.

The agreement has also prompted reactions on the political scene. Ardian Gjini, leader of the Alliance, criticized the energy policy of the caretaker government and the cancellation of projects aimed at generating electricity in Kosovo.

Gjini said that the Alliance was the only party to react strongly after the cancellation of the “Kosova C” energy project, while the others, according to him, remained silent.

“When the energy project with ContourGlobal was terminated, once again only the Alliance reacted,” Gjini said.

He accused the current government of using, as he put it, “the most bizarre” justifications for not producing electricity in Kosovo.

Acting Minister of Economy Artane Rizvanolli announced that KEK would export coal to North Macedonia, worth up to €73.2 million over three years.

Rizvanolli emphasized that this was the first time such a contract had been signed directly between two public companies, KEK and North Macedonia’s power utility, ESM.

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