Pork market in Croatia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018, significant pork imports put pressure on domestic producers, leading to tighter import controls and the implementation of the Regulation on minimum conditions for the protection of pigs, which affected production capacity. By 2019, stabilized live swine exports and rising boneless pork imports prompted additional government control measures and support programs for local farmers. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 triggered support programs for the livestock sector, mitigating production impacts, while African swine fever began influencing import flows and market uncertainty.

In 2021, rising swine prices and a record pork import share of 44.8% accelerated regulatory discussions on import restrictions, coinciding with the launch of the 'Meat from Croatian Farms' origin label to promote domestic products. This period saw the market volume expand to 152 thousand tons. The following year, the introduction of the Regulation on labeling of fresh pork, requiring detailed origin, farming, and slaughter information, altered packaging costs and traceability requirements, while ongoing African swine fever control measures and state aid programs helped stabilize the market size.

By 2023, tightened African swine fever controls, including mandatory processing of pigs from restriction zones before market entry, and the further promotion of the national origin label affected supply, coinciding with a market volume drop to 144 thousand tons. In 2024, the application of EU food labeling regulations and plans to revise the Law on keeping domestic animals with stricter biosecurity requirements were accompanied by a market recovery to 148 thousand tons.

Production pork in Croatia

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

After two consecutive years of growth, Croatia's pork production volume experienced a decline. In 2020, the output value of pork in Croatia stood at 148.5 million US dollars, showing little change from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production increased by 20%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 6.3%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 149.3 million US dollars, with the largest annual increase occurring in 2018 at 13.8%.

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

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of pork, 2017-2020

World map of production of pork, 2017-2020

Following two years of growth, pork production in Croatia saw a decrease. In 2020, Croatia produced 57 860 tonnes of pork, marking a slight decline of 1.3% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 29.3%, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of 9.0%. The highest volume was recorded in 2019 at 58 640 tonnes, with the most significant increase occurring in 2018 at 25.4%.

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

Exports pork from Croatia

Exports in kind, t

Croatia's pork exports declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country exported 6 653 tonnes of pork, representing a modest decrease of 6.0% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 5.5%, with a compound annual decline rate of 1.9%. The maximum export volume was recorded in 2018 at 7 442 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase that year at 5.7%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia formed the core of Croatia's pork exports in volume terms. Slovenia accounted for 54.3% of exports, Bosnia and Herzegovina for 15.8%, and Serbia for 7.8%. Together, these three countries represented 77.9% 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, M $ US

Croatia's pork exports declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the export value amounted to 20.5 million US dollars, indicating a drop of 10.4% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 3.4%, equating to an annualized decline rate of 1.1%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 23.7 million US dollars, with the largest increase that year at 11.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia were the top buyers of Croatian pork in value terms. Slovenia accounted for 60.2% of exports, Bosnia and Herzegovina for 16.7%, and Serbia for 10.1%. Their combined share reached 87.0% 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 pork to Croatia

Imports in kind, t

Croatia imported a total of 84 862 tonnes of pork in 2020, up by 1.6% compared to the previous year. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 83 537 tonnes, while the highest was in 2018 at 87 529 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 4.6%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 1.6%.

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

During the period from 2017 to 2020, Germany, Spain, and Hungary were the main sources of pork imports to Croatia in volume terms. Germany accounted for 29.1% of imports, Spain for 17.0%, and Hungary for 16.9%. Together, these three countries made up 63.0% 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, M $ US

In 2020, foreign pork supplies to Croatia were valued at 215.8 million US dollars, reflecting a moderate decrease of 7.2% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 3.4%, with a compound annual decline rate of 1.2%. The lowest import value was recorded in 2018 at 212.4 million US dollars, while the highest was in 2019 at 232.5 million US dollars. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 9.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Germany, Spain, and Hungary were the primary suppliers of pork to Croatia in value terms. Germany accounted for 29.0% of imports, Spain for 18.2%, and Hungary for 17.4%. Collectively, these three countries comprised 64.6% 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