Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo publishes February 2025 balance of payments data showing wider current account deficit

The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo published balance of payments statistics for February 2025, showing that the current account deficit in January to February 2025 widened to EUR 175.63 million, up 20.47% year on year, mainly due to a deeper goods trade deficit. The goods trade deficit reached EUR 791.50 million, up 21.48%, as exports fell 1.01% to EUR 129.88 million while imports rose 17.71% to EUR 921.38 million. Offsetting inflows increased, with the services account surplus up 32.74% to EUR 281.74 million, primary income posting a surplus of EUR 50.83 million, and the secondary income surplus rising 3.77% to EUR 283.30 million, supported by remittances of EUR 174.10 million in January to February and preliminary March remittances of EUR 117.5 million, taking the first-quarter total to EUR 291.65 million. In March, 66.08% of remittances were received via IFJB, 13.04% via commercial banks and 20.87% via other channels. In the financial account, assets recorded a positive balance of EUR 1.71 million and liabilities EUR 88.88 million, while direct investment into Kosovo totalled EUR 161.57 million and outward direct investment EUR 34.97 million, up 28.64%. Reserve assets showed a positive balance of EUR 16.59 million, driven by a EUR 33.57 million increase in deposits partly offset by a EUR 16.98 million decline in securities due to maturities.