Albanians do not "part" between coffee and cigarettes - 6-month period/ Customs clearances increase, oil and beer fall
Coffee and cigarettes have become a way of life for citizens, partly due to the summer season and increased attendance at service structures.
Official data from the Ministry of Finance for the first half of the year show that, among the main excise goods, the import of coffee and cigarettes has increased, while the opposite has happened with fuel and beer.
Specifically, during the period January-June 2026, 5,392 tons were imported, an increase of 632 tons compared to the same period a year earlier and the highest amount in 5 years. Also, in June alone, 1,520 tons of coffee were cleared, almost double the amount compared to June 2025.
Cigarette imports have also followed the same path, with 1,689 tons cleared in the first 6 months, an increase of 180 tons compared to the same period in 2025, and the highest figure in years. In June alone, 356 tons of cigarettes were cleared.
Regarding fuel imports, customs clearances in the first half of the year are recorded at approximately 332 thousand tons, down by approximately 13 thousand tons compared to January-June 2025. This is due to the significant increase in oil prices in the first months of the year as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. However, the stabilization of prices in the market is also bringing about an improvement in consumption, as approximately 69 thousand tons of fuel were cleared in June, marking an increase of 3 thousand tons compared to June 2025.
While beer imports in the first 6 months of 2026 are recorded at 25 thousand tons, decreasing by 765 tons compared to the previous year. While in June, 7,498 tons were cleared, with a slight increase compared to June 2025.
Excise revenue, for the period January-June 2026, was realized in the amount of 33.6 billion lek, 1.5 billion lek or 4.6% more than the first half of 2025, as well as a realization in the amount of 492 million lek or 98.6% of the plan for the first half of 2026.
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