Garlic market in Serbia

Earlier Report Observations

The volume of Serbia's fresh garlic market increased from 3 960 t in 2018 to a peak of 4 657 t in 2021, before declining to 3 880 t in 2023. This initial growth was supported by rising imports, which reached 1 244 t in 2020.

Domestic production rose to 3 750 t in 2021, encouraged by increased farmer interest in cultivation and higher prices for first-class quality bulbs. From 2022, adverse weather conditions in major producing countries like China drove up garlic prices, which reduced import volumes and contributed to the market's contraction to 4 287 t in 2022 and 3 880 t in 2023.

In 2024, the industry marked a development with the opening of a garlic processing factory in Ljubinje, which plans to export most of its production to the European Union.

Production garlic in Serbia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of garlic, 2017-2020

World map of production of garlic, 2017-2020

Serbia's garlic production increased in 2020 after two consecutive years of decline. The country produced 3 176 tonnes of garlic that year, marking a 2.7% rise compared to 2019. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production actually fell by 36.8%, which translates to an average annual decline of 14.2%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 3 092 tonnes, while the most significant yearly drop occurred in 2018 with a 28.1% decrease.

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

Exports garlic from Serbia

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Serbia exported 101 tonnes of garlic, representing a 12.3% increase from the previous year. Despite this recent gain, exports declined by 49.4% over the 2017-2020 period, averaging a 20.3% annual decrease. The lowest export volume was 90 tonnes in 2019, while the peak was 202 tonnes in 2018. The sharpest yearly decline happened in 2019 with a 55.7% drop.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina were Serbia's primary garlic export markets. Croatia accounted for 46.8% of exports in volume, Montenegro for 23.4%, and Bosnia and Herzegovina for 12.2%. Together, these three countries represented 82.3% of Serbia's total garlic exports during this period.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Serbia's garlic exports in value terms grew for the second straight year in 2020, reaching 158 thousand US dollars—a substantial 17.7% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 span, however, export value decreased by 4.8%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 1.6%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 120 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest yearly drop of 27.4%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia were the top buyers of Serbian garlic by value. Montenegro led with 38.2% of export value, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina at 24.2%, and Croatia at 15.0%. Collectively, these three markets accounted for 77.4% of Serbia's total garlic export value during these years.

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

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

Imports garlic to Serbia

Imports in kind, t

Serbia's garlic imports showed notable fluctuations from 2017 to 2020. In 2020, imports reached 1 244 tonnes, a 26.4% increase from 2019. The lowest import volume was 547 tonnes in 2018, while the highest was in 2020, creating a 2.3-fold difference between the peak and trough. The largest yearly decline occurred in 2018 with a 7.8% drop, whereas the biggest increase was in 2019 with a 79.8% rise.

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

From 2017 to 2020, China dominated Serbia's garlic imports by volume, accounting for 75.0% of the total. The remaining 25.0% was distributed among various smaller trading partners.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Serbia's garlic import values experienced significant volatility between 2017 and 2020. In 2020, imports amounted to 2 780 thousand US dollars, surging by 50.1% compared to 2019. The lowest value was 770 thousand US dollars in 2018, while the highest was in 2020, resulting in a 3.6-fold variation between the minimum and maximum. The sharpest yearly decline was in 2018 with a 41.4% drop, and the largest increase was in 2019 with a 140.5% rise.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, China was the dominant source for Serbia's garlic imports by value, representing 76.1% of the total. The remaining 23.9% was spread across numerous other countries, each with relatively small individual shares.

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

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