The state budget recorded a surplus of around 52.8 billion lek in the first six months of 2026, as revenues grew at a faster pace than public spending.

According to preliminary data on consolidated fiscal indicators, total revenues in the January-June period reached 410.6 billion lek, exceeding the projected plan for this period by 5%.

At the same time, total public spending reached 357.8 billion lek, or 97.4% of the six-month plan.

Compared to the same period a year ago, revenues increased by about 44.5 billion lek, or 12.2%. At the end of June, 49.9% of the annual revenue collection plan had been achieved.

Taxes and Customs exceeded the plan by 4.4 billion lek. Revenues collected by tax and customs administrations reached 260.1 billion lek, about 4.4 billion lek, or 1.7%, more than the plan for the period. Compared to the first half of 2025, Taxes and Customs collected 17.8 billion lek more, with an annual increase of 7.3%.

Only tax revenues administered by the General Directorate of Taxes, which include domestic net VAT, profit tax, personal income tax and national taxes, reached 141.5 billion lek.

These revenues were 12.9 billion lek, or 10%, higher than in the first half of 2025. Compared to the plan for the period, collections were 6.3 billion lek, or 4.6%, higher.

The strongest growth was recorded in net VAT revenues in the country, which reached 41.6 billion lek. Compared to the same period last year, revenues from this item increased by 8.4 billion lek, or 25.4%.

Revenues from profit tax reached 31.1 billion lek, achieving 85.2% of the forecasted plan for the six-month period.

Unlike the profit tax, collections from personal income tax significantly exceeded forecasts. Revenues from this item reached 47.6 billion lek, about 6.8 billion lek, or 16.6%, more than in the first half of 2025.

Compared to the plan for the period, personal income tax revenues were 6.3 billion lek, or 15.4%, higher. National tax revenues reached 21.3 billion lek, with a realization of 95.6% of the plan for the period.

Revenues from special funds, which include social and health insurance contributions, reached 99.2 billion lek.

Compared to the same period in 2025, revenues from this item increased by 11.6 billion lek, or 13.3%.

Collections from social and health insurance also exceeded the six-month plan, achieving it by 102.8%.

Tax revenues collected by the customs administration reached 118.6 billion lek, about 4.9 billion lek, or 4.3%, more than in the first half of 2025.

However, the plan for the period was implemented at 98.5%.

Revenues from VAT on imports reached 79.1 billion lek, increasing by 3.2 billion lek, or 4.2%, compared to the same period a year earlier. The six-month plan for this item was realized at 98.7%.

Excise revenue reached 33.6 billion lek, about 1.5 billion lek, or 4.6%, more than in the first half of 2025. The implementation of the plan was 98.6%.

923 million lek were collected from export royalties, or 84.8% of the six-month plan.

Meanwhile, customs tax revenues reached 5 billion lek, an increase of 463 million lek, or 10.3%, compared to the previous year. The plan for this item was realized at 96.2%.

Total public spending reached 357.8 billion lek in the first six months of the year, increasing by about 24.8 billion lek, or 7.5%, compared to the same period in 2025.

Although increasing annually, expenditures resulted lower than forecast, with a realization of 97.4% of the six-month plan.

Current expenditures reached about 321.1 billion lek, or 97.4% of the plan. Compared to the first half of last year, they increased by about 21.4 billion lek, or 7.2%.

Meanwhile, capital expenditures reached 36.8 billion lekë, exceeding the planned funds for the period by 3.8%.

Compared to the first half of 2025, public investments increased by about 3.4 billion lek, or 10.2%./Monitor