ZAGREB, October 6, 2018 - Croatia exported more live pigs in the first half of 2018 than in the corresponding period of 2017, while at the same time importing more pork, according to data from the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK).
In the first six months of this year, Croatia exported 32,087 tonnes of livestock worth 44.4 million euro, an increase of 25.1 percent over the same period last year when exports reached 25,648 tonnes. The most exported were live pigs – 18,264 tonnes, which was 17.1 percent more than in the first half of 2017.
Livestock imports reached 51.1 million euro in total value and 21,590 tonnes in quantity, an increase of 8.1 percent. The most imported was cattle - 11,666 tonnes.
In the first half of 2018, Croatia imported 67,278 tonnes of meat and meat offal, which is 1.8 percent more than in the first half of 2017. Pork imports increased by 4 percent to 39,326 tonnes, worth 83.4 million euro. Pork exports reached 9.12 million euro (3,464 tonnes).
"In the first six months of this year, we recorded a slight decrease in the deficit of trade in livestock, meat, offal and processed meat. However, given the years-long negative trade balance and the deficit exceeding EUR 280 million, the recovery of the Croatian meat industry and livestock farming, especially cattle farming, cannot be expected in the short term," HGK vice-president for agriculture Dragan Kovačević said.
