Describes how widely eCommerce is used, the primary sectors that sell through e-commerce, and how much product/service in each sector is sold through e-commerce versus brick-and-mortar retail. Includes what a company needs to know to take advantage of e-commerce in the local market and , reputable, prominent B2B websites.
Last Published: 8/23/2019

E-commerce remains relatively uncommon in Albania and is offered by a limited number of domestic merchants. Albania is a predominately cash economy, but the use of credit cards in growing and they can be used in major hotels, large grocery stores, restaurants, and department stores. Cross border e-shopping remains in the early stages due to the low use of credit cards, low purchasing power, and the high cost of shipping. Additionally, many online merchants either do not ship to Albania or charge prohibitively high shipping charges. In 2016, the GOA reduced from 150 euros to 22 euros the de minimis amount, which had a negative impact on cross-border online shopping. 

The use of cell phones to pay for goods and services is developing. The use of mobile phones is currently limited for mobile banking and is used mostly by businesses while the limited pool of individual users use it only to pay utility bills.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.