Last year, Montenegro imported potatoes from 20 countries worth EUR 5,2 million, tomatoes for EUR 8,3 million from 16 countries, and onions and garlic from as many as 30 countries for EUR 3,8 million, according to data published by Montenegro. Directorate for Statistics Monstat.
Total food imports last year amounted to 744 million euros, which is 17 percent or 108 million more than in 2022.
Two million euros were spent on imported food per day, or 3,2 euros per day per inhabitant. As food prices in 2023 were higher by 10,7 percent compared to the previous year, the increase in food imports was due to price increases as well as higher consumption, which could be influenced by a larger number of tourists and foreigners with temporary residence.
Food imports greater than all exports
The import of food alone was greater than the entire export from Montenegro, which was worth a total of 674 million euros last year.
The analysis of food imports by product shows that at least half of the imports relate to food that is produced or can be produced in Montenegro due to the climate. This is also confirmed by the fact that most of the food is imported from neighboring countries. For example, only fresh vegetables from Albania were imported for 6,5 million euros.
Montenegro cannot produce cereals in significant quantities, which is why the import of cereals, flour and its products in the amount of 104 million euros, as well as sugar, coffee, cocoa and spices for 76 million euros, could be considered justified. reduce the import of milk and dairy products by 85 million euros, meat and processed products by 172 million euros, fruits and vegetables by 113 million, live animals by 48 million,...
We drink 21 million euros of foreign milk
Last year, ordinary milk was imported for 21,2 million euros from 11 countries. Most of this product came from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in the value of 15,2 million euros, followed by Serbia for 4,7 million, from Kosovo for 434 thousand euros, from Croatia for 373 thousand euros, Italy for 117 thousand, Poland for 113 thousand euros,...
Sour milk was imported last year for 17,5 million euros, of which from BiH for 10 million, Serbia for 5,4 million, Croatia for 987 thousand, Germany for 876 thousand,...
Various types of cheese were imported for 27,7 million euros, the most from Germany for 12,7 million euros, from Serbia for 6,4 million, Italy for 2,4 million, Croatia for 1,95 million, BiH for one million, The Netherlands for 988 thousand euros, Slovenia for 867 thousand,...
Eggs were imported for 1,9 million, followed by 1,8 million from Serbia. Eggs arrived on Montenegrin tables from BiH for 40 thousand euros, North Macedonia for 25,8 thousand, and even from Germany for 19 thousand euros.
Honey, which is called "natural" in the import books, was imported for 1,1 million euros. He arrived from Serbia for one million euros and from North Macedonia for 96 thousand.
Live cattle also arrived from Australia
Of the EUR 48 million worth of live animal imports for domestic slaughterhouses, the majority of EUR 41,8 million refers to the import of live cattle. Most of these cattle were imported from Serbia for EUR 25,3 million, from Croatia for EUR 14,4 million, Austria for EUR 975 thousand,... It is also interesting to note that there were imports of live cattle from distant Australia in the value of 7,8 .XNUMX thousand euros.
Live sheep were imported for 5,1 million euros, from Serbia for 4,6 million and from Croatia for 567 thousand euros.
The import of live pigs last year was symbolic and amounted to 244 thousand euros, and this may have been influenced by the occurrence of African swine fever in the region and periodic import bans. Last year, the most live pigs were imported from Denmark for 226 euros.
Last year, fresh and frozen meat was imported for 143,7 million euros. Of that amount, beef accounts for 28,3 million, pork for 84 million and poultry (chicken, turkey,...) for 27,2 million.
The most fresh and frozen meat was imported from the Netherlands for 27,5 million euros, followed by Germany with 22,5 million, BiH with 11,3 million, Brazil with 9,1 million, Serbia with 8,4 million, Croatia with 7,8 ,4,9 million, Austria with 3,7 million, Ukraine with imports worth XNUMX million euros,...
Meat products were imported last year for 39,6 million euros, of which the most from Serbia for 13,4 million, BiH and Croatia for 6,1 million each, North Macedonia for 3,3 million, Italy for 2,5 million. ..
Fresh and frozen fish, sea and freshwater, (excluding processed fish and fillets) were imported for 4,2 million euros, of which the most from Albania for one million euros, followed by Croatia 978 thousand, Greece 846 thousand, Norway 676 thousand, Spain for 401 thousand euros,...
We also import potatoes from Luxembourg, and tomatoes from Senegal
Fresh and frozen vegetables were imported for a total of 35,4 million euros from a total of 67 countries. Most of these products were imported from Serbia in the amount of 11 million euros, followed by 6,5 million from Albania, 2,8 million from Turkey, 1,9 million from France and Greece, 1,8 million from Italy, XNUMX million from the Netherlands, XNUMX million euros,... Various types of vegetables were also imported from Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Jordan,...
The brand of the northern part of Montenegro - potatoes, was imported last year for 5,2 million euros from 20 countries. Most of these vegetables came from France for 1,8 million euros, followed by Serbia for one million euros, the Netherlands for 986 thousand, Germany for 278 thousand, from Albania for 224 thousand euros,... Luxembourg is the most developed European country whose GDP per capita, 13 times higher than in Montenegro, but even in such a country they successfully engage in agriculture, and last year, potatoes worth 11,2 thousand euros arrived on Montenegrin tables from this country.
Last year, we imported the largest agricultural brand of the Zeta plain - tomatoes, for 8,1 million euros, from 16 countries. Most of these vegetables were imported from Serbia and Albania for two and a half million euros each, and from Greece for 497 thousand, North Macedonia for 469 thousand, Italy for 360 thousand,... Montenegrin consumers also received tomatoes from Spain for 29 thousand , Morocco for 11,4 thousand, Senegal for 3,8 thousand,...
Importing onions from 30 countries
Onions and garlic were imported last year for 3,8 million from 30 countries, the most from Serbia for two million, followed by the Netherlands with 337 thousand, Albania with 312 thousand, Egypt with 236 thousand, Greece with 219 thousand, from China for 188 thousand euros,... Onions were also imported from Argentina for 3,7 thousand euros.
Apples, pears and quinces were imported last year for 5,7 million euros, of which 2,5 million from Serbia, North Macedonia for 846 thousand, BiH for 737 thousand, Poland for 464 thousand, Italy for 420 thousand,...
Melons and watermelons, a once important product from Zeta and its surroundings, Tuzi, were imported for 802 euros, and the most from Greece for 340, Albania for 267, Italy for 80,...
Water imported for 14 million from 21 countries
Bottled natural and mineral water was imported last year for 14 million euros from 21 countries, although there are seven producers of natural and mineral water in Montenegro.
The most bottled water was imported from Serbia for 12,5 million euros, followed by Itai with 411 thousand euros, BiH with 287 thousand, Croatia with 275 thousand euros,...
According to data previously published by the Chamber of Commerce for the year 2021, domestic producers of bottled water produced 33 million liters in that year, while imports at the time were 41 million liters.
At that time, it was stated that this production has grown significantly since 2006, when 6,2 million liters of bottled water were produced, but that there is still significant room for growth at the expense of imported water.
The import of olive oil is growing
There are over half a million olive trees in Montenegro, but the import of olive oil is increasing. In 2019, the import of this product was worth one million euros, and last year it was 1,74 million euros.
The most olive oil was imported from Italy for 1,47 million euros, followed by Greece with 80 thousand, Albania with 78 thousand, Croatia with 48 thousand, Spain with 46 thousand,...
According to earlier data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the consumption of olive oil in Montenegro is relatively low and amounts to 0,5 liters per capita per year. According to the same source, this is far below the level of consumption in the EU, which ranges from four to six liters per capita.
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