Despite the fact that in the past year, there was a significant drop in the value and quantity of exports from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), as a result of which the country lost approximately one billion euros, an insight into certain product categories reveals some interesting tendencies that are reflected in the increase in the value of exports, and in some cases in the increase amounts.
From meat and milk, through cereals to drinks and the textile industry – there are a number of activities that record an increase in the value of exports, however, analysts are cautious and leave room for interpretation that the inflationary trends that caused the increase in product prices should definitely be taken into account here.
Looking in total by production sectors, out of a total of nine, three recorded an increase in exports: the sector that includes stone, lime, cement, concrete and ceramics had exports of 388.4 million BAM against 366.5 million BAM in 2022, the leather sector, fur and textiles had exports of one billion and 864 million BAM compared to one billion and 834 million BAM in 2022, while the sector that includes mechanical devices, weapons and machines recorded exports of three billion and 933 million BAM compared to three billion and 477 BAM in the year before.
In the context of the activities of products of animal origin (meat, fish and milk), the value of 339,910,457 BAM was exported last year, while the year before the value was 320,859,905 BAM. The value of exported grains from BiH also increased significantly – 218,191,884 BAM in the last year compared to 181,918,569 BAM in 2022.
The analysis of individual product categories also shows how the value of exported beverages from BiH jumped, from 87,407,762 BAM in 2022 to 102,466,486 BAM last year.
The value of exported weapons and ammunition also increased, by more than 26 percent compared to 2022, that is, translated into figures, from 253.85 million BAM to 320 million BAM. The textile industry also records better data, considering that the value of exports was about one billion and 761 million BAMcompared to one billion and 705 million BAM, what was the value of exports in 2022.
When it comes to other branches of production, it is also visible how the pharmaceutical industry increased the value of exports, from 135.9 million to 172.69 million BAM. Stone, concrete, ceramic and glass products are one of the categories where we also see an increase in value, from 233.42 million BAM in 2022 to 242.72 million BAM last year, and the export value of various mechanical devices also grew, and reached the amount of almost 1.5 billion BAM.
When you look at the leading export tariffs, it is evident that, just like the year before, in 2023 electricity was in first place with a value of one billion and 55 million BAM, second place is held by insulated wire with an export value of 663.9 million BAM and a quantity slightly higher than 57 thousand tons, which is an increase compared to 52 thousand tons in 2022, while in third place are structures with a value of 613.4 million BAM and a quantity of 123 thousand tons, which also shows an increase in the amount (121.7 thousand tons in 2022)
Of the quantitatively significant tariffs, carbonates (553 thousand tons), processed wood (441 thousand tons), coke and semi-coke from hard coal, brown coal (356 thousand tons) are distinguished. Given that the export of the military industry is attracting attention due to its growth, it is worth pointing out that, in terms of quantity, a little more than 7 thousand tons were exported from BiH.
To recall, total exports in 2022 amounted to 18 billion and 377 million BAM, while last year there was a drop in value (17 billion and 169 million BAM). Although in 2023, compared to the situation in 2022, one billion BAM was lost in exports, optimism can be derived from the fact that the domestic economy has shown an enviable level of resilience over the past years, which is also reflected in the fact that exports in 2023 are six billion BAM higher than in 2019, Radio Sarajevo writes.