The euro is depreciating against the Albanian lek, exchanging at 107 lek this Tuesday, according to the Bank of Albania’s exchange rate. The US dollar and the British pound are following the same trend, trading at 100 and 124,6 lek respectively.

Currency exchange agents attribute this depreciation to a high supply of currency in the market. This supply coincides with the beginning of the tourist season, rather than reaching its peak in August.

Another factor influencing the depreciation is the real estate market, where foreign purchases of properties in the first half of the year increased by 50%, reaching a total of 290 million euros.

The depreciation is rapid, if we compare it to June 2022 when the euro was 10.6% higher.

Operators predict that this trend of the euro’s decline will continue, reaching new records for this year. The psychological factor may also have an impact, further stimulating euro sales.

Such a situation favors entities that have expenses in euros and income in lek, particularly importers, the Albanian government, and other private borrowers.

The strengthening of the lek theoretically should make imports cheaper and have a positive effect on private consumption.

Additionally, a stronger lek reduces the burden of euro-denominated debt and eases budgets by lowering debt servicing expenses.