The COVID-19 pandemic has directly affected international trade in goods; therefore, in 2021, its effects on the foreign trade in goods of the Republic of Croatia are noticeable. In January 2021, the total export of the Republic of Croatia amounted to 8.5 billion kuna and it was 208.6 million kuna, or 2.4%, lower than in January 2020. In the same period, the total import of the Republic of Croatia amounted to 12.7 billion kuna, which was a decrease of 1.6 billion kuna, or 11.3%, compared to the same period of 2020.
Foreign trade deficit of the Republic of Croatia in January 2021 amounted to 4.3 billion kuna, which was 1.4 billion kuna, or 24.9%, lower than in the same period of 2020.
In January 2021, coverage of import by export was 66.6%, while in January 2020, it amounted to 60.5%.
The most important foreign trade partners in export of the Republic of Croatia are EU Member States. Export to EU Member States in 2021 accounted for 69.6% of the total export and decreased by 3.5% compared to 2020.
The biggest foreign trade partners of the Republic of Croatia from the EU in 2021, observing data in kuna, were Germany, Italy and Slovenia. Export to Germany increased by 1.2% (share in total export of 13.6%), while export to Italy decreased by 12.7% (share in total export of 12.7%), as well as to Slovenia decreased by 5.0% (share in total export of 10.2%). The foreign trade partners outside the EU, with which the Republic of Croatia realised the largest trade in goods in 2021, were its neighbouring countries Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Serbia. In the observed period, export to Bosnia and Herzegovina decreased by 14.7% (share in total export of 7.3%), while export to Serbia increased by 7.9% (share in total export of 4.3%). In January 2021, export to the USA increased by 64.0%, which accounted for 5.1% of the total export, and mostly refers to medicinal and pharmaceutical products.
The most important foreign trade partners in import of the Republic of Croatia were also EU Member States. Import from EU Member States in 2021 accounted for 81.0% of the total import and decreased by 11.3% compared to 2020.
A significant decrease was recorded in import from Italy, of 27.5% (share in total import of 11.6%), Germany, of 7.8% (share in total import of 15.4%) and Slovenia, of 10.9% (share in total import of 11.1%).
Import from non-EU Member States in January 2021 accounted for 19.0% of total import of the Republic of Croatia and decreased by 11.4% compared to the same period of the previous year.
Observing the total export of the Republic of Croatia in 2021, the most exported goods were medicinal and pharmaceutical products, worth 675.4 million kuna, electrical machinery, appliances and devices, worth 665.2 million kuna, as well as petroleum and petroleum products, worth 537.7 million kuna.
In 2021, the most imported goods were medicinal and pharmaceutical products, worth 924.9 million kuna, road vehicles, worth 797.1 million kuna, and electrical machinery, appliances and devices, worth 772.0 million kuna.