Top Croatian Exports & Imports

Croatia’s Trading Partners Mostly European Led by Italy

Jun 23, 2008 Daniel Workman

While the US is a relatively small trading partner with Croatia, American coal exports are fueling the southwestern European republic's growing trade deficit.

Croatia’s overall trade deficit was US$14.6 billion in 2007.

Major customers for Croatia’s $12 billion worth of exports in 2007 were primarily European countries led by Italy (23.1% of total exports), Bosnia and Herzegovina (12.7%), Germany (10.4%), Slovenia (8.3%) and Austria (6.1%). Leading Croatian exports include transportation equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs and fuels.

Croatian imports last year were valued at $26.6 billion. Leading importers into Croatia is its neighbour to the west across the Adriatic Sea Italy (16.7% of total imports). Other top exporters to Croatia include Germany (14.5%), Russia (9.7%), Slovenia (6.8%), Austria (5.4%) and China (5.3%). Principal Croatian imports are machinery, transportation and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels, lubricants and foodstuffs.

Croatian Trade with U.S.

A closer look at Croatia’s trade statistics with the United States reveals that Croatia endured an $85.5 million trade deficit with its American trade partner in 2007. The most recent deficit statistic represents a 25.6% increase since 2003.

While Croatian trade with the U.S. is relatively small, the following statistics reveal the most popular trade product categories between the two countries.

Croatian Exports to U.S.

With a population of 4.5 million, Croatia exported US$332.5 million worth of merchandise to the United States in 2007, down 5.9% from 2006 and up 84.1% in 4 years.

1. Jewellery (e.g. rings, watches) …US$102.3 million (30.8% of Croatia to U.S. exports, down 6.8% from 2006)
2. Medicinal, dental and pharmaceutical preparations … $85.9 million (25.8%, down 24%)
3. Toys, sporting goods including bicycles … $38.5 million (11.6%, up 41.4%)
4. Measuring, testing and control equipment … $16.1 million (4.8%, down 0.6%)
5. Generators, transformers and accessories … $7.9 million (2.4%, up 81.2%)
6. Stone, sand, cement and lime … $7.2 million (2.2%, up 17.2%)
7. Footwear including leather and rubber … $5.5 million (1.6%, down 23.7%)
8. Electric apparatus and parts … $5 million (1.5%, up 104.1%)
9. Textile apparel and household goods … $4.6 million (1.4%, up 31.3%)
10. Bakery and confectionary products … $4.2 million (1.3%, down 8%).

Fastest-Growing Croatian Exports to U.S.

Below are selected American imports from Croatia in 2007 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2006.

1. Non-steel finished metal shapes … US$1.3 million (up 722% from 2006)
2. Materials handling equipment … $1.3 million (up 139%)
3. Laboratory testing and control equipment … $2.1 million (up 120%)
4. Electric apparatus and parts … $5 million (up 104.1%
5. Generators, transformers and accessories … $7.9 million (up 81.2%).

Croatian Imports from U.S.

Croatian imports from the U.S. rose 68.6% to $247 million in 2007, up 25.6% since 2003.

Of American exports to Croatia in 2007, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Metallurgical grade coal … US$77.8 million (31.5% of Croatian imports from America, up 107.4% from 2006)
2. Other petroleum products … $17.8 million (7.2%, up 30.6%)
3. Drilling and oilfield equipment … $16.3 million (6.6%, up 538.8%)
4. Telecommunications equipment … $9.9 million (4%, up 26.1%)
5. Medicinal equipment … $8.1 million (3.3%, up 117.5%)
6. Service industry machinery … $6.8 million (2.7%, up 70.6%)
7. New and used passenger cars … $6.3 million (2.5%, down 11.4%)
8. Shingles, molding and wallboard … $4.7 million (1.9%, up 91.2%)
9. Civilian aircraft engines … $4.3 million (1.8%, up 1181%)
10. Other chemicals … $4.1 million (1.6%, up 135%).

Fastest-Growing Croatian Imports from U.S.

Below are selected American exports to Croatia in 2007 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2006.

1. Complete civilian aircraft … US$3.1 million (up 2940% from 2006)
2. Materials handling equipment … $1.9 million (up 2471%)
3. Civilian aircraft engines … $4.3 million (up 1181%)
4. Household appliances … $1.2 million (up 551%)
5. Drilling and oilfield equipment … $16.3 million (up 539%).

Sources for this Article

This article presents independent calculations and insights based on data drawn from the CIA World Factbook and the U.S. Census Bureau – Foreign Trade Statistics.

The copyright of the article Top Croatian Exports & Imports in International Trade is owned by Daniel Workman. Permission to republish Top Croatian Exports & Imports in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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