Salt, pure NaCl and sea water market in Croatia

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the salt market in Croatia contracted in value from 21 894 thousand $ to 13 685 thousand $. This decline coincided with the dominance of imported salt, which was offered at lower prices due to lower production costs in Mediterranean and North African salt pans. Simultaneously, in 2019, new Salt Regulations were adopted, establishing requirements for iodization and labeling. In 2020, increased consumer awareness of salt content in food products put pressure on manufacturers to reduce salt usage, particularly in meat products with European quality labels.

After 2020, the market value recovered to 20 866 thousand $ in 2021 but then remained in the range of 19 595–21 162 thousand $ through 2024. During this period, regulatory pressure to reduce salt intake continued, including the national CRASH campaign and a strategic plan to lower daily consumption to 9 grams by 2019 and further by 2025. Food producers, such as bakeries, faced requirements to decrease salt content in their products, aligning with updated EU quality regulations.

Domestic salt pans, like Solana Pag, sought to increase production and exports of sea salt despite import competition and capacity constraints. By 2024, the Salt Regulations were updated, tightening requirements for production, labeling, and imports, including mandatory iodization. These measures, aimed at improving public health, influenced market dynamics, contributing to the stabilization of market value around 19 600 thousand $ by the end of the period.

Production salt, pure NaCl and sea water in Croatia

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Following a two-year decline, Croatia's production of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater has rebounded. In 2020, the output value reached 7 625 thousand US dollars, marking an 8.1% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production decreased by 4.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.4%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 7 054 thousand US dollars, while the largest decline occurred in 2018 at 6.8%.

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

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of salt, pure NaCl and sea water, 2017-2020

World map of production of salt, pure NaCl and sea water, 2017-2020

After a two-year decline, Croatia's production of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater has shown an uptick. In 2020, the country produced 35 828 tonnes, reflecting a modest 8.4% gain compared to the prior year. From 2017 to 2020, production fell by 4.6%, translating to an annualized rate of 1.5%. The lowest output was in 2019 at 33 064 tonnes, with the steepest drop occurring in 2018 at 9.2%.

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

Exports salt, pure NaCl and sea water from Croatia

Exports in kind, K t

Croatia's exports of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater reached 45.8 thousand tonnes in 2020, up 3.0% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 40.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.0%. The largest decline was in 2019 at 0.1%, while the biggest increase was in 2018 at 36.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Bosnia and Herzegovina (42.8% of exports in kind), Slovenia (35.8% of exports in kind), and Slovakia (3.9% of exports in kind) were the top destinations for Croatia's exports in kind, collectively accounting for 82.6% of total 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

Croatia's cross-border shipments of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater have increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, export value amounted to 5 462 thousand US dollars, representing a moderate 9.6% advance compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports rose by 34.9%, equating to an annualized rate of 10.5%.

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

During 2017-2020, Bosnia and Herzegovina (36.0% of exports in value terms), Slovenia (30.5% of exports in value terms), and Serbia (4.9% of exports in value terms) remained the leading buyers of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater from Croatia, jointly comprising 71.3% of total exports in value terms.

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

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

Imports salt, pure NaCl and sea water to Croatia

Imports in kind, K t

Croatia's imports of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater have declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 138.0 thousand tonnes, a sharp 42.5% drop from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 37.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 14.4%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 292.0 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest increase at 32.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Tunisia (31.4% of imports in kind), Egypt (27.1% of imports in kind), and Slovenia (18.7% of imports in kind) were the primary contributors to Croatia's imports in kind, together making up 77.2% of total 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

Croatia's imports of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater from abroad have fallen for the second year in a row. In 2020, import value was recorded at 11 522 thousand US dollars, a steep 27.1% decrease compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports declined by 13.3%, translating to an annualized rate of 4.6%. The peak value was in 2018 at 19 308 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase at 45.4%.

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

In the 2017-2020 period, Austria (23.5% of imports in value terms), Tunisia (18.6% of imports in value terms), and Slovenia (18.5% of imports in value terms) continued to be the main suppliers of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater to Croatia, jointly forming 60.6% 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