According to sourcing intelligence tool TexPro, apparel exports increased **.* per cent year on year to $***.** million during January-April **** from $***.** million in the corresponding period of ****. The latest performance builds on the growth recorded in ****, when Albania**;s apparel exports increased **.* per cent to $***.** million from $***.** million in ****. The much faster growth recorded during January-April **** indicates that export momentum has accelerated further, supported by continued sourcing shifts within Europe.
Trousers and shorts remained the largest export category, surging **.* per cent to $**.** million and increasing their share of total apparel exports to **.** per cent from **.** per cent a year earlier. T-shirt exports climbed **.* per cent to $**.** million, jackets and blazers rose **.* per cent to $**.** million, while innerwear exports increased *.* per cent to $**.** million. Shirt exports remained broadly stable at $**.** million, although their share of total exports declined as other product categories expanded faster.
The sharp increase in apparel imports complements this trend rather than contradicting it. Imports more than doubled to $***.** million during January-April **** from $**.** million a year earlier, led by trousers and shorts, T-shirts, dresses, innerwear and shirts. Trousers and shorts imports nearly tripled to $**.** million, while T-shirt imports almost doubled to $**.** million, as per TexPro.
As Albania**;s apparel industry is predominantly export-oriented and relies on inward processing, the rise in imports reflects higher inflows of fabrics, garment components and semi-finished products for processing and re-export, signalling stronger manufacturing activity rather than increased domestic consumption.