Prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal market in Croatia

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the Croatian market for prepared or preserved poultry meat grew from 6.7 million USD to 43.1 million USD. This increase was partly driven by shifting consumer habits, as buyers sought out products with higher protein levels, guaranteed safety, and local provenance.

The sector faced headwinds from elevated energy and feed costs in 2021 and 2022, which tempered growth in those years. At the same time, announced investment plans for large-scale, vertically integrated poultry production in Croatia pointed to future supply expansion. By 2023, stabilization of EU-wide poultry prices helped the market value jump by 69% to over 43 million USD.

In 2024, the broader chicken meat market in Croatia contracted by 1.8%, interrupting the upward trend that had lasted since 2020. This suggests a possible cooling in demand or adjustment in supply for poultry products.

Production prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal in Croatia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Croatia ranked as the 25th largest global producer of prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal.

Top producers of prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal, 2017-2020

World map of production of prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal, 2017-2020

In 2020, Croatia produced 6 347 tonnes of prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal, showing only minor changes from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 5.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.8%. The lowest production level was in 2018 at 3 900 tonnes, while the highest was in 2019 at 6 374 tonnes. Production fell most sharply in 2018 by 35.3%, then rebounded strongly in 2019 with a 63.5% increase.

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

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2020, the value of prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal production in Croatia reached 26 620 thousand US dollars, remaining relatively stable compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production value increased by 17.2%, averaging 5.4% growth per year. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 16 021 thousand US dollars, while the peak was in 2019 at 26 724 thousand US dollars. The most significant decline occurred in 2018 with a 29.5% drop, followed by the largest increase in 2019 of 66.8%.

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

Exports prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal from Croatia

Exports in kind, t

Croatia's exports of prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal declined for the second year in a row in 2020, totaling 6 056 tonnes—a 15.3% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 12.1%, equivalent to an annual decline of 4.2%. The highest export volume was in 2018 at 7 199 tonnes, with the largest increase that year of 4.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Austria, the United Kingdom, and Slovenia were the top buyers of prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal from Croatia, accounting for 40.6%, 21.5%, and 18.3% of exports in volume, respectively. Together, these three countries represented 80.4% of Croatia's total exports in this category.

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

Following two years of growth, Croatia's export value of prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal dropped in 2020 to 25 396 thousand US dollars, a significant 15.3% decrease year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports declined by 2.2%, averaging a 0.7% annual reduction. The peak export value was in 2019 at 29 987 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase occurring in 2018 at 13.9%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Austria, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom led as the primary destinations for Croatia's prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal exports by value, with shares of 44.9%, 17.2%, and 16.8%, respectively. Combined, these markets made up 78.8% 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 prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal to Croatia

Imports in kind, t

After increasing for two years, Croatia's imports of prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal decreased in 2020 to 6 341 tonnes, down 3.1% from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports rose by 47%, with an average annual growth rate of 13.7%. The highest import volume was in 2019 at 6 543 tonnes, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 31.4%.

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

During 2017-2020, Hungary, Slovenia, and Poland were the main suppliers of prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal to Croatia, contributing 29.2%, 25.7%, and 12.2% of imports in volume, respectively. These three countries together accounted for 67.0% of Croatia's total imports in this category.

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

Following a two-year rise, Croatia's import value of prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal fell in 2020 to 22 788 thousand US dollars, a slight 2.4% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value increased by 57.4%, averaging 16.3% growth per year. The peak value was in 2019 at 23 360 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase in 2018 at 39.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Slovenia, Hungary, and Italy were the key partners in Croatia's imports of prepared or preserved poultry meat or offal by value, with shares of 32.5%, 22.3%, and 12.8%, respectively. Together, they represented 67.6% 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