Xifres de comerç exterior de Bòsnia i Hercegovina

Foreign Trade in Figures

Bosnia and Herzegovina is open to foreign trade and is expanding its global partner network. Its trade-to-GDP ratio is 100% (World Bank, latest data available), but trade development is still hampered by low productivity levels, limited access to finance, and administrative barriers. Custom duties are relatively low for most products, but various non-tariff barriers are in place. Anti-dumping and countervailing duties are sometimes imposed to protect the local industry if the price of the merchandise is below the domestic market price or if it is subsidized. Bosnia and Herzegovina seeks to attract higher foreign investment through Free Trade Zones within the country that allow investors to invest capital in specific areas, transfer their profits, and re-transfer capital. Customs duties and tariffs are not payable on imports into these zones. Furthermore, equipment (except passenger vehicles, slots, and gambling machines) imported as part of share capital is exempt from customs duties. Moreover, BiH is actively pursuing World Trade Organization membership. The country mainly imports mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes (13.2%), nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (8.6%), vehicles (7.5%), electrical machinery and equipment (6.9%), plastics and articles thereof (5.2%), and iron and steel (3.8%); whereas exports are led by mineral fuels (9.5%), electrical machinery (8.5%), nuclear reactors (7.9%), furniture (7.8%), and articles of iron or steel (7.3% - data national statistical agency for 2023).

The country's main export partners in 2023 were Germany (16.0%), Croatia (15.3%), and Serbia (12.5%), followed by Austria (10.3%), Italy (8.7%), and Slovenia (8.1%); while the main suppliers were Italy (13.9%), Germany (12.0%), Serbia (10.2%), China (9.5%), Croatia (7.5%), Turkey (5.6%), and Slovenia (3.9%  - data national statistical agency). Overall, the EU was the biggest trading partner.

The country has a structural trade deficit: in 2022, the World Bank estimated the external balance on goods and services to be negative by 11.8% of GDP (from 13.6% one year earlier). In the same period, the Federation exported USD 9.23 billion worth of goods and USD 3.28 billion in services, importing USD 15.3 billion and 1.1 billion, respectively (data WTO). According to preliminary official data, in 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina's trade deficit rose to BAM 12.58 billion (USD 6.72 billion), a 13.6% increase from BAM 11.07 billion in 2023, as exports fell by 3.7% to BAM 16.07 billion, while imports rose by 3.2% to BAM 28.65 billion.