Kosovar diaspora sent 785.06 million euros to Kosovo

The Kosovar diaspora sent 785.06 million euros to Kosovo

The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (CBK) announces that remittances, as the main category within secondary income, amounted to 785.06 million euros by July 2025, representing an increase of 31.27 million euros or 4.15% compared to the same period in 2024.

“According to preliminary estimates, remittances for August 2025 were around 143.4 million euros, thus reaching the value of 928.48 million euros (preliminary) for the first eight months of 2025. The largest inflows during August were through IFJB with 41.02%, through commercial banks with 17.19% and other channels with 41.79%,” the CBK announces.

The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo announces that the balance of payments, until the end of July 2025, was characterized by a current account deficit of 742.18 million euros, which shows an increase of 206.40 million euros compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the trade balance in goods by the end of July 2025 recorded a deficit of 3.19 billion euros, which is 19.03% higher compared to the same period of the previous year. Exports for this period recorded a value of 528.27 million euros, which represents a decrease of 1.71%, while imports of goods recorded an increase of 15.57%, reaching a value of 3.72 billion euros.

The services account, which has a continuous positive balance, by the end of July 2025 marked the value of 1.11 billion euros, which is 22.25% higher compared to the same period last year.

Primary income – by the end of July 2025, recorded a positive balance of 184.93 million euros, which in the same period last year was worth 113.88 million euros and indicates an increase of nearly 62.39%.

Secondary income – remains the main contributor to the current account deficit. By July 2025, this account recorded a positive balance of 1.15 billion, which is 2.74% higher compared to the same period last year.

Assets in the financial account – by the end of July 2025, they have recorded a positive balance of 376.32 million euros. Financial liabilities – have recorded a positive balance of 900.63 million euros.

Direct Investments in Kosovo – by the end of July 2025 were 540.94 million euros, representing an increase of 24.24% compared to the same period last year, while direct investments outside Kosovo amounted to 212.78 million euros.

Reserve assets – by the end of July 2025 have increased by 201.48 million euros, which represents an increase of 30.22% compared to the same period of the previous year which were 154.73 million euros. The increase in reserve assets has been contributed by the increase in deposits which during the period January-July 2025 increased by 264.06 million euros. Meanwhile, investments in Securities during this period decreased by 62.58 million euros due to the maturity of some of the Securities.

The international investment position – in the second quarter of 2025, was characterized by an increase in the value of international assets by 280.91 million euros and international liabilities by 468.12 million euros. The accumulated value of international assets at the end of June 2025 marked 8.41 billion euros, while the value of liabilities was 10.96 billion euros.

The growth of international assets in the second quarter of 2025 was contributed by the direct investment category with 93.85 million euros, investments in securities with 59.94 million euros and reserve assets with 187.58 million euros. Meanwhile, the other investments category recorded a decrease of -60.46 million euros.

Within the framework of external liabilities – during the second quarter of 2025, foreign direct investments in Kosovo increased by 234.83 million euros, while other investments increased by 233.29 million euros.

Gross external debt – which includes public and private debt at the end of the second quarter of 2025, reached 4.43 billion euros, which represents an increase of 218.19 million euros compared to the previous quarter. The main contributor to the increase in external debt in Kosovo was the private sector for 133.13 million euros, while public debt increased by 85.05 million.

“Public sector debt – at the end of the second quarter of 2025 reached 1.02 billion euros, participating with 23.03% in total external debt. The largest part of public debt consists of the government’s external debt, which at the end of the second quarter of 2025 was 857.81 million euros. Private sector debt – in the second quarter of 2025 reached 3.41 billion euros. Participants in private debt are commercial banks 21.10%, direct investment companies 27.31% and other sectors 51.59%,” the CBK report on the Balance of Payments states.