Author’s post

As the statistical office said on Tuesday, Serbia’s trade deficit decreased by an annual 24.9% to 936.3 million euro ($1.1 billion) in the first two months of 2026.
Also, according to a press release of the statistical office, exports rose by 1.6% on the year to 5.292 billion euro in the reporting period. Nevertheless, imports fell by 3.5% to 6.228 billion euro.
Meanwhile, the export-import ratio in the review period increased to 84.9% from 80.7% in the first two months of 2025.
Notably, electrical machines (570 million euro), road vehicles (544 million euro in total), metal ores and residues (386 million euro) were Serbia’s most exported products in the review period.
Simultaneously, electrical machines worth 440 million euro, road vehicles worth 347 million euro, and oil and oil derivatives for 302 million euro were imported by Serbia.
Germany, (831 million euro), Italy (480 million euro), and China (342 million euro) were Serbia’s main export destinations in the reporting period. Serbia mainly imported goods from China (1 billion euro), Germany (715 million euro), and Italy (409 million euro).
In February a trade gap of 817 million euro widened from a 759 million euro trade deficit in the same month last year. The increase of exports attained 6.3% on the year (2.876 billion euro) in February. Meanwhile the raise of imports was 6.6% (3.693 billion euro).
In 2025, Serbia’s trade deficit expanded by 2.9% to 8.791 billion euro.
NH Logistics SER has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Serbia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

Source Link

The leading vendor-neutral digital pricing, booking and procurement platform for the international freight industry, Freightos (NASDAQ: CRGO), announced today that Air Serbia will join its cargo booking platform. That means further expanding of Freightos’ airline network and strengthening adoption of Freightos Pay in Europe. Freightos Pay will get access to rapid, guaranteed digital payments between freight forwarders and carriers across Europe, including for forwarders without IATA accreditation, due to this integration.
Freight forwarders will be boosted by the addition of Air Serbia. It will make Air Serbia air cargo available for e-bookings across the United States and throughout its European network, from Albania and Austria to Sweden and Switzerland.
According to Sebastien Podgorski, VP Airline Solutions, at Freightos, payments are a strategic lever in air cargo. Combining booking with guaranteed payments will help airlines strengthen cash flow, reduce disputes, and open up distribution to a much broader set of forwarders.
As Veselin Djordjevic, Head of Cargo at Air Serbia, said, digital transformation is at the core of our growth strategy, and partnering with Freightos represents a significant step forward in our cargo operations.
She added that the guaranteed payment solution will eliminate financial uncertainty while expanding the reach to freight forwarders across Europe and beyond. Operations will be streamlined, administrative work will be reduced by this integration.
Freightos’ Pay solution ensures carrier payment from a broader range of freight forwarders, all while processing and reconciling transactions faster than traditional payment methods. This streamlines the financial aspect of air cargo bookings and reduces financial risk for airlines and helps freight forwarders without an existing airline account or accreditation access carriers and grow their customer base.
Freightos® (NASDAQ: CRGO), the leading vendor-neutral global freight booking platform, makes world trade efficient, agile, and resilient. It connects airlines, ocean carriers, thousands of freight forwarders, and well over ten thousand importers and exporters.
Also, a suite of software solutions that span pricing, quoting, booking, shipment management, and payments for businesses of all shapes and sizes around the globe support the Freightos platform. Freightos Enterprise for multinational importers and exporters, Freightos Marketplace for small importers and exporters, WebCargo and 7LFreight by WebCargo for freight forwarders, WebCargo for Airlines, and Clearit, a digital customs broker, are among its products.
Moreover, Freightos provides a real-time industry data via Freightos Terminal, including the world’s leading spot pricing indexes, Freightos Air Index (FAX) for air cargo and Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) for container shipping.
NH Logistics GEO has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Georgia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

Source Link

In 2016 Ukrainian EP9M 537 electric locomotive with UZ logo appeared on rail freight transport route in Ukraine This year, the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes support the majority of imports and a large share of non-agricultural exports. They remain a core trade lifeline for Ukraine. The latest report from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and … Read more

As data from the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan informs, the total trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Georgia reached $77.9 million in January 2026. This means a 6.5% growth compared to the same period last year.
Notably, 2.2% of Azerbaijan’s total trade turnover were accounted for trade with Georgia during the reporting month.
The growth of Azerbaijan’s exports to Georgia over the year attained 7.3% and reached $69.3 million. Meanwhile, the increase of imports from Georgia was 0.6% ($8.6 million in total).
3.1% of Azerbaijan’s total exports in January was made up by exports to Georgia. Nevertheless, only 0.7% of total imports were accounted for imports from Georgia.
NH Logistics GEO has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Georgia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

Source Link

During high-level talks on February, 27, Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Aleksandar Vučić repeated their commitment to strengthening the Kazakhstan-Serbia strategic partnership.
The sides held negotiations, in both narrow and expanded formats. Expanding trade and investment, as well as cooperation in high-tech sectors, including artificial intelligence, information technology, energy and the defence industry, were in the spotlight of the talks. In this aspect, the approaching 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries carries symbolic significance.
As Akorda reported, both officials also discussed transport and logistics, agriculture, critical minerals, digitalization, construction, and tourism.
According to Tokayev, Serbia is one of Kazakhstan’s key strategic partners in Europe. He also highlighted the launch of a direct Astana-Belgrade flight and the effective operation of more than 60 Serbian companies in Kazakhstan. Moreover, mutual support, active political dialogue and growing cooperation in trade, investment, and cultural and humanitarian spheres are the basis of bilateral ties.
From his side, Vučić got interested in expanding Kazakh participation in joint projects, notably in construction, and closer collaboration in innovation-driven sectors.
Tokayev recognised Vučić’s contribution to strengthening bilateral relations by awarding him with the Altyn Qyran (Golden Eagle) Order, Kazakhstan’s highest state decoration, during the visit.
In response, Vučić called the award a great honour and a testament to the friendship between the two nations. He also added that it carries both pride and responsibility to further strengthen cooperation and promote peace and stability.
NH Logistics SER has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Serbia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

Source Link

The International Transport and Logistics Exhibition and Forum will take place on March 12–13 in Expo Georgia in Tbilisi. It will be the second time the event takes place, with the support of TBC. Expo Georgia and consulting company Savvy organize the conference.
Support and development of a strategically important sector of the economy is the main objective of the international exhibition and forum. Local and international logistics companies, representatives of ports and railway operators, air carriers, investment and financial institutions, as well as import–export-oriented businesses will gether at the event.
Such key industry topics as the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor, development of the Zangezur route, sector challenges, investment attraction opportunities, and the dynamics of digital logistics development will be discussed during the two-day forum by participants.
Evidently, one of the strategic pillars of Georgia’s economy is the logistics sector. The reason is the country’s geographic location positions that link Europe and Asia. They increase Georgia’s transit potential and directly contribute to its economic activity. More than 6% of GDP account for the sector that showed stable growth in recent years.
Giorgi Darchiashvili, Director of Corporate Clients Services (Large and Medium Business) at TBC , acknowledges that logistics is a strategically important direction for TBC. He explains that the sector strengthens Georgia’s role in regional trade by uniting businesses involved in exports, as well as by supporting imports. Holding such events like this forum creates a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and new partnerships, contributing to the sector’s sustainable long-term development. As a financial partner, TBC actively supports infrastructure projects, business expansion of its clients, and the implementation of modern technologies. This led to the growth of TBC’s logistics sector portfolio by 74% over the past three years and reaching GEL 436 million.

Georgia’s logistics sector has been demonstrating a steady development in recent years. So, its strategic importance for the country increases. This was the main motivation for launching the first exhibition and forum last year, which was highly successful. This year’s event is going to overcome the first one.
According to Resan Kikava, Director of Expo Georgia Today, it has already become an annual event and one of the most important industry platforms, bringing together local and international companies, investors, and industry professionals to share experience and jointly contribute to the development of the logistics sector in Georgia and across the wider region.
NH Logistics GEO has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Georgia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

Source Link

A document seen by Reuters reports that the EU has proposed sanctioning ports in Georgia and Indonesia over their role in handling Russian oil.
Moreover, a proposal to broaden the European Union’s sanctions regime against Russia has been put forward. As a result, ports in Georgia and Indonesia that facilitate the handling of Russian oil became targets. 
In case of adoption, it will be the first case of blocking ports located in third countries.
Effectively, the proposal will add the Georgian port of Kulevi and Indonesia’s Karimun terminal to the EU’s sanctions list, prohibiting EU-based companies and individuals from engaging in any commercial dealings with either facility.
In general, these measures are part of the EU’s 20th package of sanctions against Russia.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission jointly prepared the package and formally presented it to EU member states on Monday.
As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday, the package would introduce sweeping sectoral restrictions and replace the Group of Seven’s price cap on Russian crude with a comprehensive ban on maritime services linked to Russian oil.
As Reuters reported earlier, Russia began shipping oil to Georgia’s Kulevi refinery shortly after the facility opened in October 2025.
According to LSEG and a trader, the outlet reported that the tanker Kayseri transported 105,340 metric tons of Siberian Light crude from Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiisk to the Kulevi Oil Terminal on Oct. 6.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s reliance on Russian energy imports remains heavy. Nearly $520 million worth of petroleum and petroleum oils were imported by the country from Russia in 2024, what equaled to roughly 40% of its total imports in that category.
Volumes rising sharply from late 2024 onward made Indonesia’s Karimun terminal, situated within a free trade zone near Singapore, a key transit point for Russian oil products.
According to ship-tracking data, since October of that year, the terminal has received Russian oil products every month. Also, onward shipments were sent to Malaysia, Singapore, and China.
In total, Karimun accepted about 217,000 metric tons (equivalent to roughly 1.6 million barrels) of Russian diesel in 2025.
NH Logistics GEO has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Georgia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

Source Link

Tbilisi’s initiative aims at regional integration and evolving trade routes, despite investment and regional security risks.
The main goal of Georgia is to become a transit intermediary between Armenia and Azerbaijan and wider Eurasian markets.
As Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze informed, the country has launched projects to create joint customs checkpoints with Armenia and Azerbaijan with support from the Asian Development Bank.
He also said that a novel computerized transit system has been successfully implemented, according to European Union standards.
Such infrastructure initiatives as the East–West Highway, the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, the Anaklia deep-sea port, dry ports, and railway modernization are among projects aimed at enhancing transportation connections between Central Asia, the Black Sea region, and European markets.
Georgia also pursues geopolitical signaling purposes, such as attracting investment from China and the West through the incorporation of neighboring countries into its customs and transit infrastructure. There are free trade agreements between Georgia wand China, Turkey, and the EU. They make the country engaged in a comprehensive economic strategy designed to enhance its connections with China, maintain its partnership with the EU, and preserve its ties with the United States. South Caucasus transit routes attract more attention due to Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Unfortunately, unresolved Armenia–Azerbaijan tension is a constraint able to disrupt corridor projects.
Nevertheless, there is a significant progress in establishing and operationalizing joint Georgia–Armenia and Georgia–Azerbaijan customs checkpoints, including technical and regulatory implementation milestones.
Other beneficial changes are developments in the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process that affect cross-border trade, transit security, and corridor reliability.
Also, the Asian Development Bank and other external financiers gave commitments and disbursements to Georgian transport and customs infrastructure projects.
Moreover, there are shifts in EU and US diplomatic and economic engagement with Georgia linked to domestic governance and regulatory policies.
Georgia’s joint initiatives in customs integration and infrastructure development will continue to solidify its transit capabilities and encourage foreign investment. The continued effectiveness of these initiatives with Western nations will be shaped by the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process, Russia’s regional actions, and Georgia’s partnerships. Nevertheless, instability of the situation in the region or escalation among external powers are the factors hindering Georgia’s effort to act as a stabilizing logistics hub and complicate its multi-vector economic strategy.
NH Logistics GEO has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Georgia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

Source Link

According to the Chamber of Foreign Trade of Bosnia and Herzegovina (VTKBiH), the competent institutions should provide the information regarding a Decree on the introduction of a temporary measure to ensure the economic stability of industries of strategic importance. The Government of Serbia has adopted this decree which limits the import of certain iron and steel products from January 1 to June 30, 2026.
For example, ribbed concrete steel and hot-rolled wire in coils, as well as ribbed concrete steel in rods, fall under the regulation. They introduce the measure for six months and will implement it through the system of tariff quotas. After that, the import of these products will be the subject of a customs duty of 50 percent. Nevertheless, individual quotas are divided into quarterly maximums, for the period from January 1 to March 31, in order to supply the market evenly. That means that it is possible to transfer the unused quota from the first to the second quarter until June 30 of this year. The order of customs declarations’ acceptance will be the basis of quotas distribution.
Evidently, such parameters as the cumulative volume of real trade flows, regional distribution models and the real market share of producers and suppliers were not fully taken into account when determining the quotas.
Moreover, they adopted the Regulation limiting the duty-free placement of goods within the CEFTA countries at the very end of one business year. This factor limits long-term contracts that companies from BiH have with companies on the market of the Republic of Serbia.
The statement adds that the detention of trucks at border crossings, which has already occurred in practice and currently is the most critical problem for exporters from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The retention has already had measurable and serious consequences. Financial costs (truck stops, penalties, additional transport costs) increased, deliveries to contracted customers in the Republic of Serbia were delayed. Production and construction supply chains were interrupted, causing serious damage to the reputation of suppliers from Bosnia and Herzegovina as reliable and predictable partners.
As VTKBiH announced, it asks an urgent reaction of the competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia and CEFTA structures to the competent institutions in BiH due to the economic repercussions of the effects of the said Regulation on the free, duty-free flow of goods within CEFTA countries.
NH Logistics SER has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Serbia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

Source Link

Since January 1, Serbia has launched a six-month import quota scheme on selected steel products.
Particularly, imports of cement and certain steel products have fallen under this temporary quota regime. The measure limits imports of Portland cement and selected iron and steel products through tariff quotas for a six-month period from January 1 to June 30, 2026. It means that they will apply an additional 50% customs duty to the relevant products after the exceeding the quota thresholds.
Five product groups will fall under the regulation: Portland cement, hot-rolled steel, cold-rolled steel, ribbed concrete reinforcing steel, hot-rolled wire rod, and ribbed reinforcing bars. The largest share of the total quota volume, exceeding 420,000 tonnes, accounts for cement (250,350 tonnes). They will allocate quotas to countries and customs territories basing on their respective shares of total imports over the past five years.
Türkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and other countries of the European Union expect the largest allocations. They will implement the quota scheme in two quarterly phases: January 1–March 31 and April 1–June 30, 2026, with the possibility to carry any unused quota volumes forward to the following quarter.
A “first come, first served” principle will define quota distribution. Implementation and monitoring will be under the responsibility of the Customs Administration. Also, they will report utilization data to the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade on a monthly basis.
NH Logistics SER has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Serbia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

Source Link