Croatia’s food imports surge, raising alarm over domestic production

Croatia has become one of the largest food importers in the European Union, with imports now covering around half of the country’s food consumption.

Particularly affected are the meat, dairy, and bakery sectors, where imported products increasingly overshadow local supply.

The value of imported food has surpassed €6 billion, with meat and dairy products making up a significant share. This trend has raised concerns among domestic producers, who say more targeted investment could have supported the local sector.

“Billions are spent on imports, while our own producers are left behind. We should have invested strategically. As a result, cattle farming is disappearing,” livestock farmer Stjepan Bistrović tells HRT show Potrošački kod.

However, Agriculture Minister David Vlajčić takes a more optimistic view, noting that Croatia nearly balanced its food trade last year, with €3.88 billion in exports.

Still, the nature of trade remains concerning. Croatia exports raw goods like wheat, corn, soy, and live animals, only to import processed food such as meat products.

“We export grain, import animal feed, export live animals, and import meat products,” explained agriculture industry advisor Zvjezdana Blažić.

MEP Biljana Borzan highlighted that no EU rules force Croatia to import.

“We’ve talked about food self-sufficiency since the pandemic, but I haven’t seen real progress. Import levels are a decision for the national government,” she said. She also suspects cartel behaviour among retailers and pointed out that food prices have risen 45% in Croatia over the past four years—8% above the EU average.

Retailers and producers are both criticised, as some domestic brands sell imported goods disguised as local. Meanwhile, high-quality Croatian raw materials are often exported, and lower-quality products are imported in return.

To help consumers, the government has introduced “anchor prices” to show the price of products on 2 May alongside current prices. However, concerns have been raised over accessibility, especially for pensioners and those without smartphones.

“Many won’t be able to use price comparison apps,” said Ana Knežević from the Croatian Consumer Protection Association. “For this to work, prices must stabilise. That’s the only way retailers can manage this and consumers can benefit.”