The value of Chinese goods that were imported to BiH in the first half of this year reached the amount of 231.6 million BAM, which is by 24.2 million BAM more compared to the same period last year. Clothing, footwear and electrical appliances from this country remain among the best-selling products on the domestic market.
According to the data of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH, the most imported this year were electrical appliances, generators, turbines, water heaters, and engines, while there is no shortage of the import of textiles and footwear as well.
In the first six months of last year, a total of 207.4 million BAM of goods were imported from China, while 56.19 million BAM went to customs. This year, according to the ITA BiH, a total of 6.7 million BAM more was spent on customs.
In the Consumer Movement of the RS believe that goods that are originating from China have their market in BiH, i.e. they are mostly purchased by lower income residents.
“The fact that goods were produced in China does not have to mean that it is bad quality,” said from the Movement and added that consumers are well aware of what they are buying.
“Many are deciding on goods from China because of low prices, they know what they can get for that price and we did not have any complaints from consumers,” they stated, adding that the products from China will come to BiH in large quantities until the paying power of the population is increased.
Constant growth in volume and value of import from China is accompanied by an increasing number of Chinese retail stores.
Domestic traders stated that they are directly affected by that and that their sales are dropping.
“We are selling almost the same products that we buy in Turkey, Romania or Hungary, but goods from China are bought at a lower price, so they are a lot cheaper here, and our customers go to Chinese vendors,” said Jelica Markovic.
(Source: akta.ba)
