Imports of excise goods marked a significant increase in the first 6 months of the year, compared to the same period of the 2020 pandemic year, as well as compared to the same period of 2019.
The largest increase was marked by the import of fuels, which during this year broke historical records. The official data of the Ministry of Finance confirmed that during the period January – June 2021 285 thousand tons of oil were imported, with an increase of 21% compared to 2020 and 23% more than in the normal year 2019.
Sources from the market linked the high oil imports with the non-functioning of ARMO, but meanwhile this year has set records even compared to previous years, when ARMO was not working and in the country were being carried out works on major pipeline projects TAP and HPPs on the Devoll River.
According to the analysis of the Ministry of Finance, high fuel imports were the main contributor to the increase in budget revenues in this period.
Customs revenues in January-June 2021 were realized in the amount of ALL 84.7 billion, ALL 16.5 billion or 24.3% more than in the first six months of 2020, as well as ALL 4.5 billion or 5.6% more than the customs revenue plan for the six months of the year 2021.
According to the Analysis of 60 commodity groups, 50% of the contribution to the total customs revenue is occupied by 5 products and respectively, imported fuel 23.7%, cigarettes 12.5%, base metals and articles thereof 6.1%, used vehicles by 4.4%, plastics and items 2.7%.
The Ministry of Finance reported that the largest increase in impact compared to the first six months of 2020 was given by revenues from imports of fuels, used vehicles, base metals and articles thereof, cigarettes, clothing and textiles and construction materials , with an effect of ALL +9.6 billion as a result of the increase in the imported quantity and the price change.
Cigarette imports increased slightly by only 2% compared to the first six months of 2020, with a customs clearance amount of 1,286 tons. Cigarette imports have fluctuated from year to year over the decade affected by excise, smuggling and austerity measures.
Coffee imports increased by 4% in the first 6 months, reaching over 4100 tons in quantity. They were also higher than the normal year 2019 where about 4 thousand tons were imported. Beer imports marked 18,930 hectoliters with an increase of 18% from the year of the pandemic and 10% compared to the normal year 2019.
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