Croatia Trade Deficit Widens in May

Croatia’s trade deficit widened slightly to EUR 1.70 billion in the month from EUR 1.67 billion a year earlier. Exports climbed 13.6% year-on-year to EUR 2.3 billion, while imports increased 5.2% to EUR 3.9 billion. In the first five months of the year, the trade gap narrowed to EUR 8.5 billion from EUR 8.6 billion in the corresponding period of 2025. During this period, exports rose 11.4% to EUR 11.4 billion, driven by stronger shipments to both EU countries (14.9%) and non-EU markets (4.1%). Meanwhile, imports grew 5.4% to EUR 19.9 billion, reflecting higher purchases from both the EU (2.7%) and non-EU markets (14.8%).

Croatia’s trade deficit slightly narrowed to EUR 1.7 billion in April 2026 from EUR 2.0 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports climbed 33.1% year-on-year to EUR 2.7 billion, while imports increased 10.2% to EUR 4.4 billion. In the first four months of 2026, the trade gap narrowed to EUR 6.8 billion from EUR 7.0 billion in the corresponding period of 2025. Over this period, exports rose 10.8% to EUR 9.1 billion, supported by stronger shipments to both EU countries (14.7%) and non-EU markets (3.2%). Meanwhile, imports grew 4.7% to EUR 15.9 billion, driven by higher purchases from the EU (2.8%) and non-EU countries (11.1%).

Croatia’s trade deficit widened to €2.01 billion in March 2026, up from €1.77 billion in March 2025, according to preliminary data, the largest gap since May 2024. Imports surged 14.8% to €4.52 billion, the highest level since late 1999, while exports jumped 15.8% to a record €2.51 billion. In the first quarter of 2026, the trade deficit narrowed to €4.62 billion from €4.86 billion in the same period of 2025. Exports rose 3.0% to €6.36 billion, supported by a 4.9% increase in sales to the EU, though exports to non-EU countries declined by 0.7%. Imports, meanwhile, fell 0.5% to €10.98 billion, driven by a 2.7% drop in purchases from non-EU countries and nearly flat demand from the EU.