In Montenegro, the daily expenditure on imported food averages 3.4 euros per resident, with the total value of imported food surpassing the nation's entire export value by 25 percent. Last year, Montenegro imported food worth 772 million euros, reflecting a 3.7 percent increase from the previous year. Beverages accounted for 123 million euros of this total, marking a 6.4 percent rise. According to Monstat, the food and beverage sector experienced a 1.3 percent price increase last year, driven by heightened consumption and rising import costs.
The daily consumption of imported food amounted to 2.12 million euros, translating to 3.4 euros per day per capita, or 2.9 euros when including foreigners with permanent residence. Imports of live animals for domestic slaughterhouses totaled 47 million euros, while fresh and frozen meat imports reached 151 million euros. Meat products accounted for 43.7 million euros, fresh vegetables for 36 million euros, dairy products for 71 million euros, and bottled water for 67 million euros. Overall, food imports were 25 percent higher than Montenegro's total exports, which stood at 615 million euros.
Montenegro sources most of its food imports from neighboring countries such as Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Croatia. However, imports also arrive from diverse global locations, including beans from Kyrgyzstan and Canada, tomatoes from Morocco, potatoes from Cyprus, cabbage from South Korea, onions from Egypt, beef from New Zealand, and meat products from Indonesia, Thailand, and the Falkland Islands.
Fresh vegetable imports amounted to 36 million euros, with Serbia contributing 10.7 million euros, Albania 6.3 million euros, Turkey 3.7 million euros, the Netherlands 2.1 million euros, Greece 1.9 million euros, and France and Italy also participating. Potatoes, a traditional Montenegrin product, were imported from 16 countries, totaling 4.2 million euros, with France and the Netherlands being major suppliers.
Tomatoes were imported for 8.4 million euros from 11 countries, including Albania, Serbia, and Turkey. Onion imports totaled 3.1 million euros from 21 countries, with Serbia and the Netherlands being primary sources. Fresh cabbage imports were valued at 1.5 million euros from 16 countries, and cucumber imports reached two million euros, mainly from Albania and Serbia. Dried beans imports amounted to 1.77 million euros, sourced from Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, and other countries.
Despite the potential for domestic cultivation, Montenegro continues to import fruits from neighboring countries with similar climates. Last year, 5.8 million euros were spent on importing pears and apples, primarily from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Source: Vijesti