Mainly wheat and corn, to make bread or pasta... last year, more than 374 thousand tons of grain were imported. The amount of grain imported during 2025 increased by almost 40 thousand tons compared to 2024.
Zef Gjeta, a lecturer on agriculture, told A2CNN that the increase in imports is due to the lack of domestic production. We have reforms, but no concrete acts. There is no funding for agriculture.
Changes in the geography of foreign trade, reduced transportation costs, and the strengthening of the lek made the price of imported grain lower.
Although almost 40 thousand tons more wheat and corn were imported, the value paid for their purchase was almost the same as in 2024, a year in which about 10 billion lek were spent.
Andi Haxhiymeri, administrator of a grain company, says: "Now, grain is coming mainly from Serbia. Previously, it came from Russia and Romania. The costs are consequently lower."
Despite being at negligible levels, Albania managed to export 248 tons of grain worth 28 million lek last year. Compared to 2024, a year in which domestic production was weak, exports almost doubled.
"Everywhere in the world, wheat production is subsidized. In Serbia, Canada, France, etc., wheat production is subsidized. The farmer cannot take over the entire process," said Haxhiymeri.
Zef Gjeta said: "Our state has failed in terms of subsidies, so we are in this situation where we do not produce, but import."
Including fields, gardens, meadows, lawns, pastures or swamps, there are around 875 thousand hectares of land in Albania. Of this, the area containing humus and minerals, in other words agricultural land, is estimated at almost 700 thousand hectares.
But, year after year, the area planted with wheat, corn, oats, barley or other agricultural crops is shrinking, while the area of barren land is expanding.
