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The twenty imports Albania is best placed to replace.

Albania imported USD 7.7bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 2.9bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 755mthe twenty, imported in 2024
32products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
643products Albania already exports well
157product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Albania already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Albania would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Albania does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Cigarettes: containing tobaccoHS 240220

    Comes fromPoland 52%, 13 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTobacco, (not stemmed or stripped) (exports USD 8m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1k
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 110m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 14 per cent (2); Poland supplies 52 per cent (1).

    USD 110mup 58% on 2022
  2. 2

    Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectorsHS 854449

    Comes fromItaly 49%, 26 source countries
    Nearest export strengthInsulated electric conductors: ignition wiring sets and other wiring... (exports USD 134m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 85m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 26 per cent (1); Italy supplies 49 per cent (1).

    USD 85mup 68% on 2022
  3. 3

    Non-alcoholic beverages: other than non-alcoholic beer, n.e.c. in item no. 2202.10, not including fruit, nut or...HS 220299

    Comes fromSerbia 67%, 25 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWaters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or... (exports USD 17m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 832k
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 34m, top 21 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 34 per cent (1); Serbia supplies 67 per cent (2).

    USD 34mup 9% on 2022
  4. 4

    Washing and cleaning preparations: powders, flakes and granules, surface-active, whether or not containing soap...HS 340250

    Comes fromItaly 22%, 31 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSoap and organic surface-active products: in the form of bars... (exports USD 2m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 17m
    Countries that export it well39

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 69m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1).

    USD 69mup 93% on 2022
  5. 5

    Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10HS 210690

    Comes fromItaly 28%, 47 source countries
    Nearest export strengthProtein: concentrates and textured protein substances (exports USD 3m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 5m
    Countries that export it well51

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 63m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 40 per cent (1).

    USD 63mup 46% on 2022
  6. 6

    Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterHS 170199

    Comes fromFrance 31%, 18 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 606k
    Countries that export it well44

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 49m, top 11 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2).

    USD 49mdown 1% on 2022
  7. 7

    Beer: made from maltHS 220300

    Comes fromItaly 48%, 20 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWaters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or... (exports USD 17m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 46m, top 11 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 31 per cent (1); Italy supplies 48 per cent (1).

    USD 46mup 80% on 2022
  8. 8

    Dog or cat food: (not put up for retail sale), used in animal feedingHS 230990

    Comes fromItaly 54%, 23 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWaters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or...
    Exports of this lineUSD 149k
    Countries that export it well48

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 45m, top 12 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 34 per cent (1); Italy supplies 54 per cent (1).

    USD 45mup 28% on 2022
  9. 9

    Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils, n.e.c. in heading no. 7213, of...HS 721391

    Comes fromMalaysia 43%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFerro-alloys: ferro-chromium, containing by weight more than 4% of... (exports USD 119m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 781k
    Countries that export it well31

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 41m, top 14 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 38 per cent (1); Malaysia supplies 43 per cent (1).

    USD 41mup 289% on 2022
  10. 10

    Leather: further prepared after tanning or crusting, incl. parchment-dressed, of bovine (including buffalo) or equine...HS 410799

    Comes fromItaly 82%, 13 source countries
    Nearest export strengthRaw hides and skins: whole, unsplit, of bovine or equine animals, of... (exports USD 2m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 135k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 11m
    Countries that export it well23

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 19m, top 43 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 45 per cent (1); Italy supplies 82 per cent (2).

    USD 19mdown 37% on 2022
  11. 11

    Wine: still, in containers holding 2 litres or lessHS 220421

    Comes fromItaly 76%, 23 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWaters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or... (exports USD 17m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 433k
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 19m, top 45 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 39 per cent (1); Italy supplies 76 per cent (2).

    USD 19mup 119% on 2022
  12. 12

    Tissue, towel, napkin stock or similar: for household or sanitary use, cellulose, wadding webs of cellulose fibres, in...HS 480300

    Comes fromTurkey 50%, 14 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPaper and paperboard: sacks and bags, including cones, of paper... (exports USD 43m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 17k
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 19m, top 45 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 15 per cent (2); Turkey supplies 50 per cent (1).

    USD 19mup 28% on 2022
  13. 13

    Plaster, or plaster compositions: boards, sheets, panels, tiles and similar articles, faced or reinforced with paper...HS 680911

    Comes fromNorth Macedonia 64%, 10 source countries
    Nearest export strengthGranite: articles thereof, (other than simply cut or sawn, with a... (exports USD 2m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 13k
    Countries that export it well32

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 18m, top 47 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 34 per cent (1); North Macedonia supplies 64 per cent (2).

    USD 18mup 111% on 2022
  14. 14

    Reception apparatus for television, whether or not incorporating radio-broadcast receivers or sound or video recording...HS 852872

    Comes fromChina 38%, 25 source countries
    Nearest export strengthInsulated electric conductors: ignition wiring sets and other wiring... (exports USD 134m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 18k
    Countries that export it well17

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 37m, top 18 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1).

    USD 37mup 61% on 2022
  15. 15

    Particle board of wood, whether or not agglomerated with resins or other organic binding substancesHS 441011

    Comes fromTurkey 60%, 14 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWood: coffins (exports USD 6m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 962k
    Countries that export it well38

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 26m, top 27 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 38 per cent (1); Turkey supplies 60 per cent (1).

    USD 26mup 13% on 2022
  16. 16

    Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: containing the three fertilizing elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassiumHS 310520

    Comes fromGreece 55%, 19 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, ammonium nitrate... (exports USD 706k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 170k
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 19m, top 41 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 27 per cent (1); Greece supplies 55 per cent (1).

    USD 19mup 132% on 2022
  17. 17

    Aluminium: casks, drums, cans, boxes and the like for any material (not compressed or liquefied gas), 300l capacity or...HS 761290

    Comes fromSerbia 82%, 13 source countries
    Nearest export strengthAluminium: unwrought, alloys (exports USD 50m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 43k
    Countries that export it well42

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 11m, top 85 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 45 per cent (1); Serbia supplies 82 per cent (2).

    USD 11mup 13% on 2022
  18. 18

    Food preparations: sweet biscuits, whether or not containing cocoaHS 190531

    Comes fromTurkey 34%, 27 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFood preparations: bakers' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether... (exports USD 16m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 510k
    Countries that export it well52

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 17m, top 54 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 19 per cent (2).

    USD 17mup 42% on 2022
  19. 19

    Paper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboardHS 481910

    Comes fromItaly 36%, 30 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPaper and paperboard: sacks and bags, including cones, of paper... (exports USD 43m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 2m
    Countries that export it well46

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 16m, top 58 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 25 per cent (2).

    USD 16mdown 5% on 2022
  20. 20

    Sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasoningsHS 210390

    Comes fromItaly 54%, 27 source countries
    Nearest export strengthProtein: concentrates and textured protein substances (exports USD 3m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 200k
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 11m, top 90 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Albania's export strengths in the top 35 per cent (1); Italy supplies 54 per cent (1).

    USD 11mup 63% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Albania already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded... imports USD 155m, exports USD 78m, top source Turkey 79%
  • Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of... imports USD 67m, exports USD 4m, top source India 32%
  • Waters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other... imports USD 63m, exports USD 17m, top source Italy 31%
  • Food preparations: bakers' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not... imports USD 55m, exports USD 16m, top source Italy 38%
  • Leather: further prepared after tanning or crusting, including... imports USD 22m, exports USD 118k, top source Italy 99%
  • Locks: parts of padlocks, locks, clasps and frames with clasps incorporating... imports USD 35m, exports USD 15m, top source Italy 97%
  • Hair preparations: shampoos imports USD 20m, exports USD 2m, top source Italy 35%
  • Food preparations: pasta, uncooked (excluding that containing eggs), not... imports USD 20m, exports USD 2m, top source Italy 68%
  • Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins (diapers), napkin liners and... imports USD 27m, exports USD 10m, top source Greece 32%
  • Buildings: prefabricated, not of wood imports USD 19m, exports USD 2m, top source Italy 84%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 157 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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