Binders, folders and file covers market in Croatia

Earlier Report Observations

The Croatian market for binders, folders and file covers experienced a general contraction in physical volume from 587.7 tonnes in 2018 to 395.0 tonnes in 2024. This period was marked by significant declines in 2019 and 2020, a partial recovery in 2021, followed by further decreases in 2022 and 2023 before a modest rebound in the final year.

Domestic production fell sharply throughout the period, from 296.2 tonnes to 90.5 tonnes, indicating a reduced industrial footprint. Market volume fluctuations were largely driven by changes in import levels, which varied year-to-year but remained the dominant supply source for the country.

Market volume grew by 9% to 395.0 tonnes in 2024. This recovery was supported by a rising consumer trend in Croatia favoring environmentally sustainable products, which increased demand for eco-friendly paper-based stationery items such as binders and folders.

Production binders, folders and file covers in Croatia

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Production of binders, folders, and file covers in Croatia declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output was valued at 621 K $ US, marking an abrupt decline of 33.2% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production decreased by 31.4%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -11.8%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 1 040 K $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 14.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Croatia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Croatia's production of binders, folders, and file covers declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, 186.7 t were produced, representing a sharp reduction of 28.8% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, production decreased by 40.7%, equating to an annualized rate of -16.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Croatia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports binders, folders and file covers from Croatia

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 99.5 t and peaked in 2019 at 199.6 t, showing a 2× difference between these years. In 2020, exports from Croatia totalled 142.8 t, representing a steep contraction of 28.4% compared to the previous year. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 100.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Croatia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Austria (47.6% of exports in kind), North Macedonia (22.1% of exports in kind), and Slovenia (10.8% of exports in kind) remained the principal buyers of binders, folders, and file covers from Croatia, jointly accounting for 80.5% of total exports in kind.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Croatia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, exports of binders, folders, and file covers from Croatia came to 264 K $ US, representing a strong reduction of 16.0% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 20.8%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -7.5%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 238 K $ US, which also saw the largest decline of 28.7%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 32.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Croatia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, three main markets—Austria, North Macedonia, and Slovenia—together absorbed 65.6% of total exports in value terms of binders, folders, and file covers from Croatia.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Croatia in value, 2017-2020

Imports binders, folders and file covers to Croatia

Imports in kind, t

After a two-year rise, import volumes of binders, folders, and file covers in Croatia declined. In 2020, import volume totalled 349.5 t, showing an abrupt decline of 26.5% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 6.7%, equating to an annualized rate of 2.2%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 475.2 t, which also saw the largest increase of 21.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Croatia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, China (31.6% of imports in kind), Bosnia and Herzegovina (16.4% of imports in kind), and Italy (12.9% of imports in kind) together accounted for 60.8% of total imports in kind, remaining the main sources for binders, folders, and file covers to Croatia.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Croatia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year uptick, import volumes of binders, folders, and file covers in Croatia declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 1 020 K $ US, which is 24.3% less than a year earlier. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 3.3%, equating to an annualized rate of 1.1%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 1 348 K $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 24.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Croatia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, China (20.1% of imports in value terms), Italy (17.8% of imports in value terms), and Germany (16.0% of imports in value terms) continued to head the list of suppliers of binders, folders, and file covers to Croatia, jointly taking 53.9% of total imports in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Croatia in value, 2017-2020