As Albania emerges as a serious contender in Europe’s nearshoring game, its manufacturing map is evolving fast. Strategic investments, improved infrastructure, and a young, skilled workforce are turning key cities and regions into hotspots for industrial growth. Whether it’s textiles, electronics, automotive parts, or renewable energy components, here are the Top 5 manufacturing hubs to watch in Albania in 2025.

1. Durrës: The Coastal Powerhouse

Focus: Textiles, Logistics, Light Engineering

Albania’s largest port city is also its most dynamic industrial hub. Durrës combines maritime access with proximity to the capital, Tirana, making it a logistics dream for exporters and manufacturers alike.

Foreign direct investment is rising, and the area is home to hundreds of textile factories, along with growing operations in packaging, plastics, and light metalwork. With ongoing infrastructure upgrades and plans for a multimodal transport corridor, Durrës is poised to become Albania’s primary manufacturing gateway to Europe.

2. Tirana: The Innovation Engine

Focus: Electronics, Automation, Startups

The capital city may be best known for government and finance, but its industrial edge is quickly sharpening. Tech-driven manufacturing—particularly electronics assembly, automation, and smart components—is gaining momentum in Tirana, thanks to its educated talent pool and access to research institutions.

Several business parks near the city are attracting investors seeking to combine production with innovation, and a new wave of returnees from abroad is driving process improvement and digital transformation in local firms.

3. Shkodër: The Skilled Workforce Magnet

Focus: Footwear, Automotive Components, Mechatronics

Located in the north, Shkodër is quietly becoming a key destination for European investors. Known historically for leather and footwear production, the city is now branching into automotive components and industrial machinery.

Vocational training centers have aligned with European standards, and the city boasts one of the youngest and most technically trained workforces in the country. With Italian and German manufacturers already setting up shop, Shkodër’s industrial future looks bright.

4. Elbasan: The Heavy Industry Comeback

Focus: Metallurgy, Construction Materials, Machinery

Once home to the country’s steel and heavy industry during the communist era, Elbasan is now experiencing a rebirth. Revitalized industrial zones are drawing attention from regional manufacturers seeking affordable land and energy-efficient production capabilities.

Elbasan’s central location and access to key road corridors make it ideal for machinery, construction materials, and agro-industrial processing. As Albania moves up the value chain, this city is set to reclaim its industrial identity—with a modern twist.

5. Vlora: The Renewable Energy Frontier

Focus: Solar Components, Green Tech, Agro-Processing

With a new international airport under construction and proximity to maritime routes, Vlora is fast becoming Albania’s gateway for green manufacturing. The city’s coastal winds and high solar potential have already attracted renewable energy investments, with solar panel assembly and energy storage components on the rise.

Agro-processing is also booming, as Vlora sits at the heart of one of the most fertile regions in the country. With EU-aligned sustainability goals and growing demand for clean technologies, Vlora is set to lead Albania’s green industrial charge.

The Big Picture

In 2025, Albania isn’t just one manufacturing story—it’s five, and counting. Each hub offers a unique mix of location, labor, and specialization, giving foreign investors the flexibility to scale smartly. As the country continues aligning with EU standards and embracing modern industry, these cities will be the ones to watch.

Albania is not a “maybe” anymore—it’s a manufacturing move that’s already happening.