Vučić: There is no decision to ban the export of edible oil to Montenegro

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, said today that there is no decision to ban the export of edible oil to Montenegro.

He said that in six months of this year, 5,7 million liters of refined edible oil were exported to that country, which is 62 percent more than at the same time last year, when 3,5 million liters were exported.

"There is no decision and I don't want to comment on whether they resell it in Pristina, Tirana or whoever. For us, free trade is something we stand for and is of essential importance, and there will be no problem," said Vučić at Pasuljanski meadows, after the "Fire Strike 2024" tactical shooting exercise.

Vučić said that Serbia annually produces 780.000 tons of sunflowers, and that 70 million liters of oil are needed for domestic consumption, while the total production of refined oil is about 155 million liters of oil.

"We can export some 85 million liters of oil unhindered, Montenegro's consumption last year for the whole year was 8,4 million liters," said Vučić.

He said that Serbia currently has 11 million liters of refined oil in its commodity reserves, which are for two months' needs, as well as that there is a lot of unrefined oil.

"In commodity reserves, what we keep is much more than the entire one-year consumption of Montenegro, and I'm not saying this because of the partnership we have with the authorities there, but because of our brotherly people. They never have to worry about that, Serbia has enough in its reserves to settle one year's needs of Montenegro without any problems," said Vučić.

"Vijesti" announced today that the ministries of economic development and agriculture expect to receive official information today or tomorrow whether Serbia has banned the export of edible sunflower oil or introduced other measures, due to which Montenegrin traders and importers have been unable to buy this basic oil since Tuesday last week. food from its regular suppliers from this country.

The interlocutor of "Vijesti" from the trading company, which is a significant importer of oil, said that the supplier informed them that all oil producers had a meeting with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, who verbally told them to stop exporting oil, without any official decision, allegedly due to the expected increase in oil prices at the global level.

"Vijesti" announced yesterday that since last week, Montenegrin traders and importers have had difficulty procuring edible sunflower oil from Serbia.

Several Montenegrin traders and food producers told "Vijesta" that last week they were informed by their suppliers from Serbia that they can no longer sell oil to them because a decision was made to ban the export of that product. This also applies to the quantities that were already contracted, and the source of "Vijesti" also says that one contingent of oil was returned from the border to Serbia on Thursday.

Montenegro covers 92 percent of its needs for sunflower oil by importing it from Serbia, so this ban could threaten the supply of this product, but also increase its prices on the domestic market.