TIRANA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Exports of Albanian products increased by 18.7 percent year on year in February 2018, reaching a value of 24 billion lek (230 mln U.S. dollars), Albania's institute of statistics (INSTAT) said Monday.

INSTAT experts attributed the double-digit growth to the increasing trend of "Made in Albania" goods in foreign markets.

The group of products with the highest impact on exports growth during February includes metals and construction materials, textiles and footwear, minerals, fuels, and electricity.

According to INSTAT, imports of goods during the month of February increased by 4.1 percent, reaching the value of 46 billion lek.

The positive trend helped to improve the trade deficit for the month of February, which was 22 billion lek, down by 8.2 percent year on year, INSTAT said.