Exports in 2022 Increased by 31.4 Percent, Imports by 48 Percent

The value of Croatian goods exports in 2022 amounted to 182 billion kuna, which is an increase of 43.4 billion kuna or 31.4 percent compared to 2021, while imports amounted to 315.4 billion kuna, increasing by about 102 billion kuna or 48 percent, according to final data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS).

The trade deficit with foreign countries in 2022 was around 134 billion kuna, increasing by about 78 percent, or about 58 billion kuna compared to 2021.

The coverage of imports by exports in 2022 was around 58 percent, while in the previous year it was around 65 percent.

With a share of about 78 percent of total exports last year, the manufacturing industry achieved an export increase of 22.3 percent, to 142.2 billion kuna, thus having the greatest impact on the overall export movement.

The production of coke and refined petroleum products, as part of the manufacturing industry, with a share of about seven percent of total exports, made the largest contribution to the increase in exports, by about 72 percent, to nearly 12 billion kuna.

Significant impact on export growth was made by the production of food products, whose exports increased by about 24 percent, to 13.7 billion kuna.

The manufacturing industry, with a share of about 79 percent of total imports and an import increase of 33.3 percent, to 248.4 billion kuna, also contributed the most to the growth of imports in 2022 compared to the previous year, according to DZS.

Within the manufacturing industry, the production of coke and refined petroleum products contributed the most to the increase in imports, with an import increase of 158.2 percent, to 23.3 billion kuna.

The increase in imports was also significantly contributed by the production of food products, with an import increase of about 31 percent, to 25.4 billion kuna.

In the supply of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning, exports in 2022 increased by about 231 percent compared to the previous year, to 10.8 billion kuna, while imports increased by 193 percent, to 16.2 billion kuna.

In mining and quarrying, an export increase of 99.2 percent was recorded, to 13.4 billion kuna, and an import increase of 191.3 percent, to 40.6 billion kuna.

According to the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), the highest values of exports and imports were achieved in the sector of mineral fuels and lubricants. Exports from this sector in 2022 amounted to about 36 billion kuna and accounted for about 20 percent of total Croatian exports, while imports during the same period amounted to about 81 billion kuna and had a share of about 26 percent, according to DZS data.

Italy, Slovenia, Germany, and Hungary are the most important partners from the EU

The most important foreign trade partners of Croatia are EU member states, and in 2022, trade with EU member states accounted for about 69 percent of total exports and about 71 percent of total imports.

In 2022, goods worth 125 billion kuna were exported to EU member states, which is 33 percent more than in the previous year. At the same time, the value of imported goods from EU members increased by 36.3 percent, to 222.9 billion kuna.

In 2022, the largest foreign trade partners from the EU were Italy, Slovenia, Germany, and Hungary.

Goods worth 22.2 billion kuna were exported to Italy, an increase of 22.7 percent, while imports from that country increased by 62.1 percent, to 43.7 billion kuna.

Exports to Slovenia amounted to 21 billion kuna, recording an increase of 41.4 percent, while imports from that country increased by 45.4 percent, to 34 billion kuna.

Goods worth 20.6 billion kuna were exported to Germany, an increase of 21.1 percent, while goods worth 39.4 billion kuna were imported, or 24.6 percent more.

Final data from DZS shows that in 2022, trade with third countries accounted for about 31 percent of total exports, which increased by about 28 percent, and about 29 percent of total imports, which increased by about 85 percent compared to 2021.

The largest foreign trade partners outside the EU in 2022 with which the Republic of Croatia had trade relations were Bosnia and Herzegovina, the USA, and Serbia.