Montenegro’s agricultural trade in the first half of 2025 shows a worrying rise in import dependence and a decline in domestic market share, according to Milutin Đuranović, head of the Food and Agricultural Industry Committee at the Montenegrin Chamber of Commerce.
Preliminary Monstat data indicate that the agricultural trade deficit reached €454.96 million, up €52.36 million from the same period in 2024. Imports of agricultural products rose 11.5% to €493.07 million, while exports fell 3.7% to €38.1 million. The import-to-export coverage ratio dropped from 8.9% to 7.7%, meaning only €7.7 is returned in exports for every €100 spent on imports.
Đuranović highlighted that the increase in imports was driven by both higher quantities (+8.1%) and rising prices (+3.4%), contributing to inflation. He noted that the rise in imports cannot be explained by increased consumption alone and likely reflects a decline in domestic product sales and substitution by foreign goods.
Major imported categories include meat (€64 million), dairy and eggs (€41 million), and cereal-based products (€41 million). Imports of fruit (+65.7%), coffee, tea, and spices (+36.9%), beverages including alcohol (+12.4%), fish and seafood (+20.2%), and vegetables (+13.8%) also increased significantly.
On the export side, declines were steepest for fruit (−27.7%), beverages including alcohol (−23.5%), sugar products (−37.1%), and cereal products (−54.4%). The only growth area was meat and processed meat exports (+19.3%).
Experts warn that continuing reliance on imports, coupled with weakening domestic production and exports, poses long-term risks for Montenegro’s food security. If trends persist, the country risks becoming increasingly dependent on imported food rather than developing as a Mediterranean exporter of food and beverages.
