FOREIGN TRADE IN GOODS

The COVID-19 pandemic has directly affected international trade in goods; therefore, in the period from January to April 2020, its effects on the foreign trade in goods of the Republic of Croatia are also noticeable. Almost 70% of the total export of the Republic of Croatia in the period from January to April 2020 was realised with ten countries that are the most important foreign trade partners of the Republic of Croatia in the export of goods.

In the first four months of 2020, among the EU Member States to which the Republic of Croatia exported the most goods, a decrease in export was recorded, which was even larger than in the first three months. Export to Germany thus decreased by 11.1%, to Italy by as much as 25.5%, while export to Slovenia decreased by 10.7% compared to the same period of the previous year. A decrease in export in the same period was also recorded among the most important foreign trade partners outside the European Union. Therefore, export to Bosnia and Herzegovina decreased by 19.5%, to the USA by 17.4%, while export to Serbia decreased by 8.4%.

An increase in export in the observed period was recorded only in export to Luxembourg (export of ships) and to Hungary (export of petroleum and oil).

The Republic of Croatia imports the most goods from the EU Member States, which makes them the most important foreign trade partners of the Republic of Croatia. Comparing the first four months of 2020 with the same period of the previous year, the largest decrease was recorded in import from Italy, of 24.6%, and from Hungary, of 20.1%, and it was even larger than in the first quarter of 2020. A decrease was also recorded in import from the most important foreign trade partners of the Republic of Croatia outside the European Union, in particular from Bosnia and Herzegovina, of 10.3%.

In the same period, the largest increase in import was recorded in import from Belgium, of 97.1%, relating to the import of pharmaceutical products, but it was lower than in the first three months of 2020.

Foreign trade in goods between the Republic of Croatia and Germany

The most important foreign trade partner of the Republic of Croatia in the total foreign trade in goods in 2019 was Germany, with which 13.2% of the total value of exported goods was realised, as well as 15.5% of the total value of imported goods. Observing the foreign trade in goods within the European Union, export to Germany amounted to 19.3% and import from Germany to 19.2% in 2019. In the period from January to April 2020, the value of goods exported by the Republic of Croatia to Germany, compared to foreign trade in goods within the European Union, amounted to 19.1%, while the import of the Republic of Croatia from Germany amounted to 18.9%.

In the period from January to April 2020, the value of goods exported Germany amounted to 4.6 billion kuna, which was a decrease of 578.1 million kuna, or 11.1%, compared to the same period of the previous year. In the first four months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, the largest decrease was recorded in the export of road vehicles, in the amount of 260.3 million kuna, or 35.6%, of clothes, in the amount of 80.6 million kuna, or 27.1%, and of general-purpose industrial machinery, in the amount of 63.2 million kuna, or 28.2%.

The value of goods imported from Germany in the period from January to April 2020 amounted to 8.6 billion kuna, which was a decrease of 1.1 billion kuna, or 11.7%, compared to the same period of the previous year. In the first four months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, the largest decrease was recorded in the import of road vehicles, in the amount of 444.9 million kuna, or 27.8%, of general-purpose industrial machinery, in the amount of 155.2 million kuna, or 22.0%, and of metal products, in the amount of 105.7 million kuna, or 24.4%.

Foreign trade in goods between the Republic of Croatia and Italy

Observing the value of goods exported by the Republic of Croatia to Italy in the period from January to April 2020, compared to foreign trade in goods within the European Union, the export amounted to 16.1%, while the import of the Republic of Croatia from Italy amounted to 15.4%.

In the period from January to April 2020, Croatia’s export to Italy amounted to 3.9 billion kuna, which was a decrease of 1.3 billion kuna, or 25.5%, compared to the same period of the previous year. The largest decrease in the first four months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019 was recorded in the export of petroleum and petroleum products, in the amount of 489.4 million kuna, or 80.4%, of clothes, in the amount of 260.8 million kuna, or 39.8%, and of iron and steel, in the amount of 150.9 million kuna, or 89.8%.

In the same period, the value of goods imported from Italy amounted to 7.0 billion kuna, which was a decrease of 2.3 billion kuna, or 24.6%, compared to the same period of the previous year. The largest decrease in the first four months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019 was recorded in the export of petroleum and petroleum products, in the amount of 816.9 million kuna, or 44.8%, and of clothes, in the amount of 203.7 million kuna, or 23.8%, while the import of iron and steel decreased by 157.5 million kuna, or 23.2%.

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