The total foreign trade turnover of the BiH wood industry in the first half of the year amounted to 1.113 billion KM, which represents a slight decrease of 0.6 percent compared to the same period last year. The sector continues to achieve a significant surplus, which in that period amounted to 547.7 million KM, but this is a decrease of 3.7 percent compared to the same period last year.
In the first six months, the BiH wood industry achieved exports of 830.6 million KM, which is a decrease of 1.6 percent (less by 13.9 million KM) compared to the same period last year, although 644,326 tons were exported, which is an increase of 7.5 percent compared to last year’s 599,302 tons.
According to an analysis by the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH (VTK BiH), BiH exports more in quantity, but at a lower price, which indicates an increased export of raw or semi-finished products with lower added value. This trend confirms the orientation towards the export of raw materials and products with a lower added value, which is particularly expressed through the decline in the export of unprocessed wood and furniture, and the growth in the export of firewood and other basic products.
The leading 20 markets account for 92 percent of total exports. In the first half of the year, there was a noticeable decline in exports to key partners – Germany (-8.9 percent), Croatia (-2.3 percent), Serbia (-1.5 percent), but also the Netherlands (-18.6), France (-14.9) and China (-52 percent), while an increase was observed to the markets of Slovenia, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria and Albania, which indicates the potential for expanding the presence in these markets.
– Definitely the highest growth of BiH exports in that period was to the markets of Vietnam (+1122.8 percent) and the United Arab Emirates (+80.5 percent), and it will be interesting to follow further developments towards these markets – according to the analysis of VTK BiH.
Imports by the BiH wood industry continued their upward trend and amounted to 282.9 million KM in the first half of the year, which represents an increase of 2.6 percent compared to the same period last year, when goods worth 275.8 million KM were imported. In terms of volume, imports amounted to 236,905 tons, which is an increase of 14.6 percent, confirming the increased demand for raw materials and semi-finished products in domestic processing.
