Montenegro’s economy is entering the autumn with increasingly visible problems. Data from Monstat show that the country’s trade deficit from January to August 2025 reached an alarming level: exports totaled just €365.7 million, while imports exceeded €2.88 billion. Compared to the same period last year, exports fell by 4.6 percent, and imports rose by 6.5 percent, resulting in an import coverage ratio of only 12.7 percent, down from 14.2 percent last year.
Mirza Krnić of the Preokret Movement described these figures not as mere statistics, but as the result of “poor planning and economic experiments” by the government. He warned that August inflation of 4.6 percent further erodes citizens’ living standards. Instead of focusing on production growth and competitiveness, the government is increasing burdens on businesses and citizens through new debt and spending on a large administrative apparatus.
Krnić said that the trade deficit and high inflation reflect the government’s shortsighted economic planning. He added that domestic inflation, partly driven by the “Evropa Sad” programs, acts as a hidden form of taxation. The government is now issuing bonds to citizens instead of using loans to finance productive projects, effectively transferring the costs of inefficient administration to businesses and households.
He highlighted Montenegro’s heavy dependence on imports and criticized the government’s lack of strategy to boost domestic production. Import coverage by exports has fallen from 19.8 percent to 15.1 percent over two years, a decline exacerbated by the temporary closure of the thermal power plant, import lobby pressures, and limited production of goods for export. Current exports mainly consist of electricity and raw materials, with little diversification.
Krnić emphasized that government action on excise taxes, pricing policies, and stronger regulation of major retail chains could help support domestic products. He also called on the Competition Agency to prevent anti-competitive practices and stressed the need for strategic stockpiles and guaranteed procurement for domestic producers. He advocated for promoting local products, organizing producers into cooperatives, and exploring international markets to increase exports.
He argued that economic patriotism, subsidies, and incentives for domestic production could reduce imports, increase exports, strengthen employment and productivity, enhance competitiveness, and lower prices, ultimately benefiting citizens and the state alike. Krnić concluded that progress is only possible through hard work, commitment, and the development of production and the overall economy.
According to Monstat, the main export category is mineral fuels and lubricants (€96.9 million), including electricity (€73.1 million). The largest import category is machinery and transport equipment (€699.2 million), including road vehicles (€275.5 million). Montenegro’s top export partners are Serbia (€97.7 million), Bosnia and Herzegovina (€31.8 million), and Slovenia (€27.5 million), while the top import partners are Serbia (€502.2 million), China (€350.7 million), and Germany (€287.6 million). Trade was highest with CEFTA members and the European Union.
