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CLEAR CALCULATION: Vojislav Stanković
By increasing the volume and changing the production structure of agricultural production, with the adoption and application of adequate agricultural policy measures, it is possible to achieve agricultural exports of eight to ten billion dollars for a period of six to ten years, agroeconomist Vojislav Stankovic told “Vesti”.
He points out that the basic preconditions for increasing the production and export of agricultural and food products are primarily the stabilization of monetary and tax and exchange rate policy, ie the policy that affects production, foreign trade and capital movements, which ensures Serbia’s inclusion in international institutions and integration processes. – World Trade Organization (WTO) and the EU.
He pointed out that there is a great demand for fruits and vegetables, especially for Serbian raspberries, strawberries and apples, as well as for cereal products.
Serbia’s foreign trade in goods of agricultural and food origin in the period so far is characterized by the realized value of exports of 2.9 to 4.1 billion dollars, with a achieved share in the export of the economy of 15-20 percent. At the same time, a high value of imports of 1.5-2.3 billion dollars was achieved, by years, with a achieved share of about 10 percent in the total merchandise imports of the economy, Stankovic points out.
He emphasizes that the realized results in the foreign trade exchange of agricultural and food products are also characterized by a surplus that amounts to 1.6-1.8 billion dollars in certain years, with a rate of coverage of imports by exports of 180 percent.
Observed by countries of destination in the export of agricultural and food products, more than 90 percent of the realized value of exports is realized on the markets of 20 countries, with almost the entire share referring to the markets of the EU, BiH and Northern Macedonia. In recent years, the share of Southeast European countries with which there is a free trade agreement has become increasingly important.
Increasing surplus
Exports are dominated by cereals, fruits, tobacco and processed products, edible oil, while on the import side, next to the group of so-called non-competitive products (coffee, spices, citrus fruits and protein feeds) are represented by significant quantities of fruits and vegetables, tobacco and processed products, confectionery and diet food, Stanković notes.
– In 2020, Serbia realized the export of agri-food products in the amount of 4.14 billion dollars, which is a record growth of exports at a rate of 14.4 percent, with at the same time realized imports in the amount of 2.3 billion dollars, at a rate of growth of 8.8 percent. The surplus in foreign trade in 2020 records a growth of 20.5 percent, ie it is 312 million dollars higher than in 2019 and amounts to 1.84 billion dollars – says our interlocutor.
The wine arrives in Japan
Estimates say that from the export of fruits, vegetables and processed products, Serbia could realize about 800 million dollars, primarily on the EU markets (Germany, Austria, Italy, Great Britain).
Also, in recent years, progress has been visible in the segment of wine production in Serbia. Thus, estimates say that up to 40,000 tons of wine could be exported to markets primarily in Germany, the United States, Japan and Canada.
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