The new economic year started well for the milling industry since 33,000 tons of flour were sold for export during July and August; which is 30 percent higher than the average international results of previous years – Zdravko Šajatović, director of the Association of the Milling, Baking and Pasta Industry of Serbia “Žitounija”. – What is also important to say when it comes to this year’s exports is that domestic exporters have two new markets – Hungary and Slovenia, so it would be good to continue that marketing in the coming period.
Šajatović says that we have as much flour as we want, because we have enough wheat to cover domestic needs and sell to others. – That’s why we need new consumers. Although it is unusual that the Hungarians bought flour from us – 1,176 tons, since they are large producers of wheat, but in any case they came to the local market and it would be ideal if they stayed and trade with Hungary continued in the coming period. We sold 725 tons to Slovenians.
He mentioned that our traditional customers are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia, where we sell about 90 percent of surplus flour.
We mostly sell flour to them because the transportation costs are not expensive since we are close to each other, but trading flour to countries outside our environment can be a big expense due to transportation. That is why it is best for us to sell as many foodstuffs as possible to the countries that are in our immediate vicinity, so Hungary and Slovenia are ideal as new importers of domestic flour – pointed out Šajatović.
According to him, the export of flour for the domestic milling industry is not only important in order to get rid of market surpluses, but it is also important because of the cost of food.
Sign up for business updates & specials.
