Markets
Euro falls to record low: 91.1 lek at the official rate
The European currency has lost 6.1% against the lek in a year, while experts point to the high supply of foreign currency from tourism and an improved balance of payments.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 19, 2026, 15:27 · Updated 12:20 · 1 min read
In brief
- The euro traded at 91.1 lek, the lowest level ever recorded.
- The annual decline in the euro-lek exchange rate has deepened to 6.1%.
- The Bank of Albania bought 663.6 million euros in the first half of the year.
The euro-lek exchange rate started the week with a new decline, hitting a record low. According to the official rate of the Bank of Albania, the euro traded on Monday at 91.1 lek, the lowest level ever recorded, Monitor reports.
Compared with a year earlier, the European currency has lost 6.1% of its value against the lek. Market experts link this trend to weak demand for euros and abundant supply, fed by tourism inflows, now spread across almost the entire year, as well as by automatic bank transactions such as credit card purchases in foreign currency.
Balance of payments and budget surpluses
Part of the explanation also lies in the balance of payments statistics. In the first half of 2026, the current account deficit fell by almost 41% compared with a year earlier, to its lowest level since 2018, mainly thanks to growth in exports of services and remittances. Foreign direct investment reached 1.144 billion euros, an increase of 50%.
The budget has also played a role: in the first eight months of the year, it posted a surplus of 61.6 billion lek, 52% more than a year earlier, which has reduced the amount of lek in the market.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Albania has continued its foreign currency purchases. In the second quarter it bought a total of 524 million euros, of which 143 million through auctions to boost reserves and 381 million through direct purchases. Together with the 139.6 million euros of the first quarter, purchases for the first half reach 663.6 million euros.
