Tirana, Dec. 27 (AENews) – Albanian newspapers announced that this year’s political handover has caused a de-monopolization of exotic fruits’ market in Albania.

According to the daily Korrieri, the banana market is under the control of a group of companies connected to the Angjeli family.

Banana Fruit company, under ownership of Llazar Angjeli, controlled majority of the market, according to the newspaper.

There have always been allegations that the true owner of these companies was the ex-Minister of Finances Anastas Angjeli, whom would use his influence over the customs authorities to inhibit the importation of bananas from any other company.

Angjeli himself has always denied these allegations; meanwhile there has never been an official investigation into these allegations.

In 2003, banana imports into Albania were estimated at EUR8.4 mln, and then fell to EUR7.4 mln in 2004, according to data from the Albanian Center for International Trade (ACIT).

During 2003, 80% of imports were from Ecuador, meanwhile during 2004, imports spread mainly between Italy and Ecuador.

Banana Imports (Cif Value)
	Eur 000	KG	Eur per KG	Quota %
Columbia	345,22	875.727	0,39	4,80
Cyprus	16,13	39.754	0,41	0,22
Germany	106,47	377.185	0,28	1,48
Ecuador	2.972,22	7.407.093	0,40	41,30
Eritrea	7,89	19.047	0,41	0,11
Greece	274,48	732.179	0,37	3,81
Italy	3.031,67	6.507.010	0,47	42,13
Macedonia	2,57	6.77	0,38	0,04
Ukraine	361,25	995.96	0,36	5,02
Yugoslavia	78,09	195.435	0,40	1,09
Total	7195,99	17.156.160	0,42	100,00

Banana Imports 2003 (Cif Value)
Country	Eur 000	KG	Eur per KG	Quota %
Costa Rika	545,25	1.354.132	0,40	6,35
Cyprus	222,3	671.18	0,33	2,59
Ecuador	5.832,93	15.547.938	0,38	67,92
Greece	581,49	1.485.769	0,39	6,77
Honduras	218,58	540.372	0,40	2,55
Panama	890,62	2.309.929	0,39	10,37
Yugoslavia	82,55	201.362	0,41	0,96
Montenegro	214,53	602.728	0,36	2,50
Total	8588,25	22.713.410	0,38	100,00

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