Publication of External Sector statistics for the first quarter of 2025 and Balance of Payments for April 2025

The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo, according to the publication calendar, presents the External Sector statistics for the first quarter of 2025 and the Balance of Payments for April 2025.

Balance of Payments – by the end of April 2025, was characterized by a current account deficit in the amount of 471.92 million euros, which shows an increase of 7.11% compared to the same period of the previous year. The increase in the current account deficit comes mainly from the increase in the deficit in the trade balance.

Trade Balance – trade balance in goods by the end of April 2025 recorded a deficit of 1.74 billion euros, which is 20.49% higher compared to the same period of the previous year. Exports during this period reached a value of 278.99 million euros, representing a decrease of 2.85%, while imports of goods reached a value of 2.02 billion euros, representing an increase of 16.62% compared to the same period of the previous year.

Services Account – which has a continuous positive balance, at the end of April 2025 recorded a value of 510.61 million euros, which represents a higher level of positive balance by 42.54% compared to the same period of the previous year.

Primary Income – by the end of April 2025 recorded a positive balance of 131.63 million euros, which in the same period of the previous year had a value of 41.23 million euros.

Secondary Income – remains the main contributor to the mitigation of the current account deficit. At the end of April 2025, this account recorded a positive balance of 622.85 million euros, which represents an increase of 3.54% compared to the same period of the previous year.

Remittances – are the main category within secondary income, the value of which by April 2025 marked 403.51 million euros, which represents an increase of 2.35% compared to the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, according to preliminary estimates, remittances for May 2025 are around 126.58 million euros, thus reaching a total value of 530.08 million euros (preliminary estimate). The largest inflows during May were also through NBFIs with 56.67%, through commercial banks with 13.91% and other channels with 29.42%.

Assets in the Financial Account – by the end of April 2025 have recorded a negative balance of 30.87 million euros. Meanwhile, financial liabilities have recorded a positive balance of 327.34 million euros.

Direct Investments in Kosovo – by the end of April 2025 were 276.78 million euros, which represents almost the same level as the previous year (an increase of 0.42%). On the other hand, direct investments outside Kosovo recorded a significant increase of 93.99%, reaching the value for the first four months of 2025 at 111.06 million euros.

Reserve Assets – by the end of April 2025 have recorded a positive balance of 97.61 million euros, which represents an increase of 33.89% compared to the same period last year.

International Investment Position – in the first quarter of 2025, was characterized by a decrease in the value of international assets of 110.21 million euros, while international liabilities increased by 134.86 million euros. As a result, at the end of March 2025, the total value of international assets reached 8.13 billion euros, while the value of international liabilities reached 10.50 billion euros.

Decrease in International Assets – in the first quarter of 2025, was contributed by investments in securities with a decrease of 17.43 million euros, the category of other investments with 130.14 million euros, and reserve assets with 36.93 million euros. On the other hand, the category of direct investments has increased by 74.29 million euros.

In the Framework of External Liabilities – during the first quarter of 2025, foreign direct investments in Kosovo increased by 169.03 million euros, while other investments decreased by 34.17 million euros.

Gross External Debt – which includes public and private debt, at the end of the first quarter of 2025 reached 4.20 billion euros, which represents a decrease of 29.06 million euros compared to the previous quarter. Both sectors, public and private, had a decrease in debt during this quarter. Public debt decreased by 21.53 million euros, while private debt by 7.53 million euros.

Public Sector Debt – at the end of the first quarter of 2025 reached 934.38 million euros, accounting for 22.26% of total external debt. The largest part of public debt consists of the Government’s external debt, which at the end of the first quarter of 2025 was 765.19 million euros.

Private Sector Debt – at the first quarter of 2025 reached 3.26 billion euros. Participants in private debt are commercial banks (19.66%), direct investment companies (29.27%) and other sectors (51.07%).

Complete details may be found at the following link. 🔗 Time Series – BQK.