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Albania third in Europe for high dairy prices, 35.6% more than average in 2025

Politiko 2026-06-30 08:49:43

Dairy prices in our country have become so expensive in the last year, not only exceeding the European Union average, but we are now the third most expensive country in Europe for livestock products.

According to recently published Eurostat data, milk and dairy prices in Albania were 135.6 percent of the EU average in 2025 (EU27=100), almost at the same level as Norway, at 135.7 percent.

Albania and Norway rank last for the high level of prices in this group of products, after Switzerland, which leads with an index of 144% of the EU average, as the most expensive country on the continent.

Albania has seen particularly strong growth over the past four years. The index rose from 112.3 in 2022 to 135.6 last year, making milk and egg prices 36% higher than the EU average.

Comparing with the region makes the difference even more noticeable. Serbia had an index of 107.1 of the EU average in 2025, Croatia 111.2, Montenegro with 95% of the EU average, Bosnia and Herzegovina 92 and North Macedonia 89.6, with prices still cheaper than the EU.

Unlike rich countries like Switzerland and Norway, where high prices are associated with much higher wages and purchasing power, in Albania this price level has a heavier burden on family budgets. This is particularly sensitive because milk, its by-products and eggs are part of the basic food basket and are linked to good health for both young and old.

The problem is not only that Albania is more expensive than the region and most of Europe, but that the gap with the European average has widened significantly from year to year.

In 2022, Albania was among the 13 countries with the highest dairy prices in Europe, in 2024 it was fifth, and in 2025 it ranked second.

The decline in livestock numbers, high feed costs, and dependence on imports for some inputs have increased pressure on prices. While production has declined sharply, demand for dairy products has increased due to tourist flows.

Emigration and an aging population in rural areas have contributed to a sharp decline in livestock numbers. The livestock sector has halved in the last decade. But existing farms are also at further risk as harmonization with EU standards requires investments that many small farms currently cannot afford, making the sector fragile and products more expensive.

It's not just milk that's more expensive. Other Eurostat data shows that food prices are for the first time around 3% more expensive than the European Union average. Prices have risen rapidly, from 85% of the EU average in 2022 to 99.6% in 2024, to 102.9% in 2025. /Monitor