The value of goods exported by Serbia in the first nine months of this year was 8.9 per cent higher than in the same period last year, while the value of imports increased by 8.2 per cent, according to the publication of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (SORS) – Trends, Q3 2025.
Export movements were most strongly influenced by a 9.6 per cent increase in the manufacturing industry, which accounted for 87.8 per cent of total exports.
This was followed by mining, with a share of 5.6 per cent, which recorded cumulative growth of 9.4 per cent.
The manufacturing industry also had the greatest impact on the growth of imports. Its growth amounted to 5.5 per cent, with a share of 72.9 per cent in total imports.
Serbia recorded a positive external trade balance, that is, a surplus, in the January–September period with 12 European countries, amounting to around 3.7 billion euros. Montenegro ranked first, with a Serbian surplus of 995.3 million euros.
In this period, Serbia exported the most food products to Montenegro, followed by electricity, gas and steam, beverages, and motor vehicles and trailers.
The largest external trade deficit in the first nine months of this year was recorded with China, amounting to 3.2 billion euros, and with Turkey, with which Serbia had a negative balance of 747 million euros.
By product activity, imports from China consisted mainly of unclassified products, unspecified machinery and equipment, as well as computers and electronic and optical products.
The negative external trade balance with Turkey is the result of the high value of imports of basic metals as well as electrical equipment.
The most important external trade partners in the January-September 2025 period were countries with which Serbia has signed free trade agreements.
Member states of the European Union accounted for 58.1 per cent of total trade, while the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ranked second with a share of 18.6 per cent.
Individually, Serbia exports the most to Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, China and Hungary, and imports the most from China, Germany, Italy, Turkey and Hungary, reports Tanjug news agency.
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