Serbia’s foreign trade shows a 7.7% increase, but a growing trade deficit highlights concerns over the country’s economic balance.
Serbia’s foreign trade in the first quarter of 2025 reached a value of €17.59 billion, marking a 7.7% year-on-year increase. While exports grew by a modest 1.8%, amounting to €7.35 billion, imports surged by 12.4%, totaling €10.24 billion. This imbalance led to a trade deficit of €2.9 billion, up a worrying 52.8% from the previous year.
The coverage of imports by exports has dropped to 71.7%, a significant decrease from 79.2% in the same period of 2024.
The EU remains Serbia’s primary trading partner, accounting for over half of its total trade, while CEFTA nations contribute significantly to exports, particularly in electricity, grains, and oil products.
Despite the surplus with CEFTA, Serbia’s widening deficit underscores challenges in balancing trade, with China, Germany, and Italy playing pivotal roles in both export and import activity.
As Serbia’s economy navigates these shifts, questions arise over its long-term trade sustainability and reliance on key partners.