A Q
South Korea has become for the first time the main country from which cars registered in Albania are imported. According to data from the General Directorate of Road Transport Services (DPSHTRR), during 2024, 18.8 thousand vehicles originating from South Korea were registered for the first time, accounting for 19% of the total number of registered vehicles.
Doubling of imports and comparison with previous years
Compared to 2023, imports from South Korea have more than doubled, marking an increase of 124%. Just two years ago, imports from this country were minimal, with around 1.2-1.5 thousand vehicles per year.
Replacing Italy and Germany
Traditionally, the main countries from which vehicles were imported were Italy and Germany. However, since 2023, Albanians have started to prefer Korean cars more due to competitive prices, despite higher transportation costs.
Practical examples of bargains
Sonila, an Albanian buyer, bought a 2013 Golf 6 (R Line) with 118 thousand kilometers for a total price of 6500 euros, including customs and transportation. A similar vehicle would cost 1000-2000 euros more in Germany. Domestically produced vehicles from Hyundai, such as the Tucson and Santa Fe, are also preferred for their bargain prices.
Italy came in second place for registrations, with 17.8 thousand vehicles (18%), followed by Germany with the same number. Switzerland (9.3 thousand), the USA (6.9 thousand) and China (5.9 thousand) complete the list of main importing countries. In total, 99.4 thousand vehicles were registered for the first time in 2024, a record that represents an increase of 27.5% compared to the previous year.
Reasons for the increase in imports from South Korea
Korean vehicles are offered at more economical prices than European ones, despite lower standards and cheaper production costs. Albanians buy cars either through online orders, paying transportation and inspection fees, or through agencies that guarantee quality.
Global trends and Korean exports
According to Korean media, exports of used cars from Korea have increased significantly. In 2023, shipments reached a value of 4.44 billion dollars, an increase of 66% compared to the previous year, while units sold reached 555,549 (+68%).
Despite dilemmas about standards and costs, the competitive prices of Korean cars are making them the main choice for Albanians, increasingly orienting them towards the Korean market.
Redaksia
