The trade deficit in meat in Bosnia and Herzegovina is severe, with an import and export coverage rate of 12%.

In the first half of this year, the trade deficit in Bosnia and Herzegovina's agricultural and food industry totaled 2 billion marks, accounting for 32% of the country's total trade deficit for the first half of the year, with meat exports only covering 12% of imports.

Data from the Indirect Taxation Administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina shows that meat imports have been on the rise over the past three years, but have slightly decreased year-on-year this year. Despite the reduction in import volume, the upward trend in prices has become more pronounced. From January to July this year, meat imports amounted to over 381 million marks, while exports were only 306 million marks, with the main import countries being the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Belgium, and Serbia.

Economists warn that this import structure exacerbates the pressure on the trade balance, highlighting the urgency to strengthen local production and support domestic livestock farmers. Although Bosnia and Herzegovina has great potential for livestock development, domestic producers still struggle to compete with foreign products in terms of scale and price. This situation has also led to the closure of numerous farms—many livestock farmers are forced to exit the market due to a lack of competitiveness. More concerning is the health risk—imported frozen meat often uses additives for preservation, raising strong consumer concerns about food safety.