30.07.202609:26:21UTC+00Montenegro Trade Deficit Hits Record High

Montenegro’s trade deficit widened to €396.5 million in June 2026, up from €366.4 million in June 2025, marking the largest shortfall on record. The gap expanded as imports rose by 7.7%, significantly outpacing a 3.2% increase in exports.

Over the first half of 2026, imports grew 3.4% year-on-year to €2,177.9 million. This increase was driven primarily by higher purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (up 12.3%), animal oils and fats (up 8.4%), chemicals (up 5.9%), and machinery and transport equipment (up 1.6%).

In contrast, exports declined 7.4% to €261.4 million, weighed down by a sharp reduction in shipments of machinery and transport equipment (down 39.1%), chemicals (down 27.6%), and crude materials (down 18.4%).

Europe remained Montenegro’s principal trading partner, accounting for 94.3% of the country’s exports and 78.8% of its imports.