Livestock production as a potential for international trade exchange, the case of the Republic of Croatia

The key feature of the current international trade exchange of livestock, meat, and meat products in the Republic of Croatia is the relatively high and growing foreign trade deficit. In order to overcome the negative economic trends and improve the situation, it is essential to find new or revitalize existing markets, which is crucial for overcoming various weaknesses in international trade. Through an integrated approach that includes sustainable resource management, the introduction of new technologies, and production inputs, it is possible to create the conditions necessary to improve the situation in international trade flows. Therefore, this paper will analyze trade components, imports, and exports of livestock as economic categories during the period from 2019 to 2023. The methodology used in this paper will include calculations for import coverage by exports, relative import coverage, expressed comparative advantage, calculation of the relative foreign trade balance, and statistical trend analysis. The aim of this paper is to present the trade of livestock, specifically pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats, through international trade flows, i.e., imports and exports, to show the trade balance, and, through trend calculations, project the trade exchange for the next five-year period.