Half of exports depend on rain, millions are spent on importing food that is produced or can be produced in Montenegro

For the period January-April this year, Montenegro imported goods worth 1,11 billion euros, while at the same time exports amounted to 271 million.

Electricity accounted for 57 percent of total exports or 155 million euros. Montenegro has a surplus of electricity after the cessation of aluminum and steel production, and in the first four months of this year there was considerable rainfall, which enabled such a large export.

In the same period last year, the export of electricity was worth 100 million, but then there was also a large import due to the overhaul of the Thermal Power Plant in April, as well as the drought that had already started in that month. Renovation of the Thermal Power Plant started this year in April, when it was out of operation, but the hydroelectric power plants' reservoirs were full, so the import of electricity was worth only 8,3 million euros.

We exported the most electricity to Bosnia and Herzegovina for 40,8 million, to Slovenia for 39,8 million, to Serbia for 30,3 million, to the Czech Republic for 26,6 million...

EPCG announced that their net profit for four months due to this export is about 110 million euros.

Aluminum exports halved

The second largest export product was non-ferrous metals - aluminum with a value of 30,8 million euros. At the same time last year, its exports were worth 75 million euros. Aluminum plant - Uniprom shut down the remaining symbolic 12 aluminum production cells in mid-May, so it is now engaged in the processing of imported aluminum into alloys and part of semi-finished products. The import of raw aluminum for these four months amounted to 18,6 million euros, so the net export of this metal was about 12 million euros.

The export of pharmaceutical products, related to the Hemomont company, was worth 13 million euros, while the export of ores bauxite, lead, zinc... amounted to 10 million.

The export of vodka also appeared

Export of wood raw material, including pellets, 9,8 million, and meat products 7,3 million. Wines were exported for 1,7 million euros and beer for 737 thousand.

In mid-April, the "Beluga" vodka factory was opened in Nikšić, but it has already influenced the growth of exports in the category of brandy and similar alcoholic beverages by half a million, to 838 thousand euros.

Food imports increased

The most significant import item is still food at 211 million euros, which is 46 million more than in the same period last year. The reason for this growth may be the greater number of tourists, but also the increase in food prices.

This means that Montenegro imported food worth 1,76 million euros per day, which is almost three euros per day per inhabitant.

Live animals for slaughterhouses were imported for 14,6 million, mostly cattle for 13 million and sheep and goats for 1,2 million. The most live livestock was imported from Serbia for 10,3 million and from Croatia for 3,8 million.

Raw meat and meat products were imported for 38,1 million, and the most from Spain for 8,3 million, the Netherlands for 7,9 million, Germany for 5,4 million, BiH for three million, Serbia for 2,7 million, Austria for 1,7 million, from Brazil for 1,6 million...

Cheese was imported for 6,9 million, the most from Germany 3,3 and Serbia for 1,5 million. Milk was bought from abroad for 6,8 million, of which 5,2 million from BiH and 1,2 million from Serbia.

The import of eggs was worth 315 thousand euros, the most from Serbia for 289 thousand and North Macedonia for 25 thousand.

Potatoes imported for 2,4 million

Fruit and vegetables were imported for 32 million euros, which is an increase of seven million euros compared to the same period last year.

Huge quantities of vegetables are still imported, which thrive in Montenegro as well. During these 120 days, potatoes were imported for 2,4 million euros, and the most from France for 1,07 million, from the Netherlands for 841 thousand, Germany for 101 thousand, from Albania for 100 thousand, Belgium for 62 thousand, Greece for 51 thousand , Denmark for 28 thousand...

Various types of onions were imported for 1,4 million euros, of which 622 thousand from Serbia, 238 thousand from the Netherlands, 132 thousand from Egypt, 120 thousand from Albania, 47 thousand from India, 44 thousand from Germany...

Cabbage of various types was imported for 484 thousand euros, the most from Albania for 266 thousand, Italy 107 thousand, Spain 48 thousand...

Water imported for 3,1 million

The import of natural and mineral bottled water was worth 3,1 million euros, of which 2,8 million came from Serbia.

Water was imported from Italy for 110 thousand euros, Slovenia for 56 thousand, Croatia for 41 thousand, France and BiH for 31 thousand each... Water was also bought from Georgia for 4,2 thousand, Norway for 569 and Latvia for 128 euros.

Car imports increased by 70 percent

Car imports for these four months amounted to 92 million euros, which is 70 percent or 38 million more than in the same period last year.

The reasons for this growth may be the rise in standards, that is, that part of the citizens decided to use the increase in wages to buy a vehicle, but also the rise in prices on the car market.

85 million was spent on the import of oil derivatives, which is two million more than last year.

The purchase of imported drugs and other pharmaceutical products cost 61 million euros, which is an increase of nine million euros or 16 percent.

Imported clothing and footwear was purchased for 57,2 million euros, which is 16 million or 42 percent more.