Maize flour and cereals market in Croatia

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for maize flour and cereals in Croatia contracted substantially from 2018 to 2023. Starting at 117.1 thousand tons in 2018, it fell by 15% to 99.1 thousand tons in 2019 and declined a further 6% to 92.7 thousand tons in 2020. The downward movement slowed in 2021, with the market size stabilizing at 92.5 thousand tons.

A sharp downturn began in 2022, when the market halved to 51.9 thousand tons, a drop of 44%. This steep contraction continued into 2023, reducing the market to just 24.0 thousand tons, which represented a decline of over 50% from the previous year. By 2023, the total market volume had fallen to less than a quarter of its 2018 level.

Production maize flour and cereals in Croatia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of maize flour and cereals, 2017-2020

World map of production of maize flour and cereals, 2017-2020

Croatia's production of maize flour and cereals has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 90.7 thousand tonnes, which represents a 10.2% decrease compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production grew by 7.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.3%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 114.0 thousand tonnes, marking a significant increase of 34.8% that year. However, the largest decline occurred in 2019, with an 11.4% drop.

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

Exports maize flour and cereals from Croatia

Exports in kind, t

The export market for maize flour and cereals from Croatia showed an unstable trend during this period. In 2018, exports reached their lowest point at 3,768 tonnes, but then surged by 80.0% in 2019 to a peak of 6,783 tonnes. This created a 1.8-fold difference between the high and low points from 2018 to 2019. In 2020, exports fell to 4,306 tonnes, a sharp decline of 36.5% compared to the previous year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for Croatia's maize flour and cereal exports in volume terms were Slovenia, which accounted for 55.5% of exports, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina at 18.3%, and Italy at 16.4%. Together, these three countries represented 90.3% of total export flows.

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

After two years of growth, the value of maize flour and cereal exports from Croatia declined. In 2020, exports amounted to 1,624 thousand US dollars, showing a sudden drop of 34.1% year-on-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export values decreased by 20.1%, with an average annual decline of 7.2%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 2,463 thousand US dollars, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 12.7% rise.

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

In terms of value from 2017 to 2020, Slovenia was the leading destination for Croatia's maize flour and cereal exports, making up 56.8% of the total. Bosnia and Herzegovina followed with 21.1%, and Italy accounted for 10.0%. Combined, these three markets represented 87.8% of total export value.

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

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

Imports maize flour and cereals to Croatia

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Croatia imported 6,345 tonnes of maize flour and cereals, which was a 30.1% increase compared to 2019. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 4,877 tonnes, while the highest was in 2018 at 6,829 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a 28.6% decrease.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, the primary sources for Croatia's maize flour and cereal imports in volume terms were Austria, which contributed 28.3% of imports, Germany at 23.6%, and Slovenia at 15.9%. Together, these three countries accounted for 67.8% of total import flows.

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

The import market displayed volatility over the observed timeframe. In 2019, import values hit their lowest point at 4,085 thousand US dollars, with a 12.8% decline that year. However, by 2020, values climbed to a peak of 7,122 thousand US dollars, marking a substantial 74.4% increase from the previous year. This resulted in a 1.7-fold shift between the minimum in 2019 and the maximum in 2020.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Germany led as the top supplier of maize flour and cereals to Croatia in value terms, accounting for 35.5% of imports. Austria followed with 24.0%, and Slovenia with 17.4%. Collectively, these three countries made up 77.0% of total import value.

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

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