UK-Albania Trade: How to Export and Import

The United Kingdom and Albania might seem worlds apart, but trade between our nations is thriving. UK exports to Albania reached £189 million in the four quarters to Q1 2025—up 11.8%—while Albanian imports to the UK totalled £169 million in 2025. For UK businesses importing and exporting, this is a market worth watching.

Why Albania? Why Now?

Albania’s economy is growing fast. GDP per capita sits at $12,493 in 2026 and the country is investing heavily in infrastructure, hospitality, and construction. The tourism boom is driving demand for food and drink (Scotch whisky is highly sought after), construction materials, and manufactured goods. UK agriculture and manufacturing have a strong reputation for quality and Albanian buyers know it.

On the flip side, Albania offers British importers high-quality agricultural produce, textiles, and footwear. Albania’s top export to the UK (footwear), worth $6.83M in 2024. It’s a two-way street.

How to Move Goods Between the UK and Albania

1. Check the Trade Agreement

The UK<>Albania Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement governs trade between our countries. Essentially this offers Albanian or UK companies preferential rates of duty – typically at 0%. The agreement sets out tariff levels, quotas, and rules of origin – you’ll need to provide evidence that your goods qualify for preferential treatment. 

Quick tip: Use the UK government’s trade tariff tool to find commodity codes, import or export controls and rates of duty for your products.

2. Get Your Paperwork Right

For shipping from the UK to Albania, or the other way, you’ll need:

• Commercial Invoice: product description, value, commodity codes and a statement of origin

• Packing List: contents and weights per package (net and gross)

• Bill of Lading or Air Waybill: proof of shipment

• EUR1: not typically required if statement of origin supplied.

For plant or agricultural goods:

You will likely need a phytosanitary certificate for plant goods.
Speak to us and we’ll check for you.

• Albania
  Albanian law requires importers to register with the Plant Protection Department and, similar to procedures in the UK for plant health, Albanian importers must give 48 hours’ notice to AL authorities before arrival at customs. Phytosanitary inspections apply.
• United Kingdom
  Importing plant goods from Albania to the United Kingdom is fairly straight forward. Register for IPAFFs and provide your agent access (or DIY it). You will need to provide notice of an incoming shipment through the IPAFFS system at least 4 hours before arrival to port. (preferably 24 hours).

3. Choose Your Shipping Route

Transit times for containers from UK ports to Albania range from 10 to 16 days depending on the route. For smaller sea freight loads, LCL (Less Than Container Load) is a cost-effective option. However, generally road freight is the most common route to and from Albania with options for full loads to less-than-a-trailer-load (LTL) being the most used.

4. Clear Customs – It’s Getting Easier

Albania is digitalising customs. The new National Single Window system allows declarations, communication, and cargo tracking online in real time which reduces costs and speeds up processing.

For UK imports, remember:

• Duty de minimis: £135 FOB value. Goods below this are duty-free

• VAT: 20% on most imports, calculated on CIF value

What UK Goods Work Best?

What to Bring Back