Beyond its sun-drenched beaches and ancient cities lies an industrial powerhouse quietly driving Croatia's economy, where a revitalized manufacturing sector accounting for 16.8% of GDP, booming food and pharmaceutical production, and dynamic construction and energy sectors showcase a nation building a resilient and modern industrial future.
Key Takeaways
- Croatia's manufacturing sector accounted for 16.8% of GDP in 2022 with a value added of 13.2 billion EUR
- In 2023, Croatia's food and beverage manufacturing subsector produced 2.1 million tons of processed goods
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing in Croatia generated 1.45 billion EUR in revenue in 2022
- Croatia's electricity production reached 15.8 TWh in 2022, primarily from hydro at 45%
- Renewable energy share in Croatia's gross final energy consumption was 30.2% in 2022
- Croatia's natural gas consumption totaled 3.2 billion cubic meters in 2023
- Croatia's construction sector contributed 5.6% to GDP in 2022, valued at 4.8 billion EUR
- Building permits issued in Croatia totaled 12,500 units in 2023
- Croatia's civil engineering output grew 7.2% YoY in Q4 2023 to 1.2 billion EUR
- Croatia's mining sector GDP contribution was 1.2% or 1.1 billion EUR in 2022
- Bauxite production in Croatia totaled 1.2 million tons in 2022
- Croatia's limestone quarrying output 25 million tons in 2023
- Croatia's industry sector employed 285,000 people or 15.2% of total employment in 2022
- Industry's share in Croatia's GDP was 24.7% in 2022
- Croatia's industrial production index grew 2.8% YoY in 2023
Croatia's industrial sector, including manufacturing and energy, remains a substantial component of its economy.
Construction
- Croatia's construction sector contributed 5.6% to GDP in 2022, valued at 4.8 billion EUR
- Building permits issued in Croatia totaled 12,500 units in 2023
- Croatia's civil engineering output grew 7.2% YoY in Q4 2023 to 1.2 billion EUR
- Residential construction starts in Croatia were 8,200 in 2022
- Road construction investments in Croatia reached 1.5 billion EUR in 2023
- Croatia's construction employment was 142,000 persons in 2022
- Non-residential building completions valued 2.1 billion EUR in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's housing price index for new dwellings rose 9.8% in 2023
- Infrastructure projects under EU funds totaled 3.2 billion EUR in Croatia 2021-2027
- Croatia's construction PMI averaged 52.1 in 2023
- Demolition and site preparation turnover 450 million EUR in Croatia 2022
- Bridge and tunnel construction in Croatia: 15 km new roads in 2023
- Croatia's energy-efficient building certifications issued 4,500 in 2022
- Construction material costs in Croatia rose 12.3% in 2023
- Croatia's public sector construction contracts awarded 2.8 billion EUR in 2023
- Renovation projects in Croatia covered 250,000 sqm in 2022
- Steel used in Croatian construction was 850,000 tons in 2023
- Croatia's airport expansions invested 120 million EUR in 2022-2023
- Building permits value for Croatia 1.9 billion EUR in 2023
- Croatia's construction sector productivity grew 3.5% in 2022
- Water supply infrastructure new builds 45 km pipelines in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's hotel construction boom: 12 new facilities in 2023
- Construction waste recycled 65% in Croatia 2022
- Croatia's railway modernization 180 km tracks renewed 2022-2023
- Cement consumption in construction 2.8 million tons in Croatia 2023
Construction Interpretation
Croatia's construction sector is clearly building more than just structures—it's constructing a robust economic foundation with a side of rising costs and hopeful property values.
Energy and Utilities
- Croatia's electricity production reached 15.8 TWh in 2022, primarily from hydro at 45%
- Renewable energy share in Croatia's gross final energy consumption was 30.2% in 2022
- Croatia's natural gas consumption totaled 3.2 billion cubic meters in 2023
- Installed solar PV capacity in Croatia was 450 MW at end of 2023
- Croatia's hydropower generation was 7.1 TWh in 2022
- Wind power capacity in Croatia reached 436 MW in 2023, producing 1.2 TWh
- Croatia's final energy consumption in industry sector was 12.5 PJ in 2021
- Thermal power plants in Croatia generated 4.5 TWh from coal and gas in 2022
- Croatia imported 85% of its natural gas needs, 2.7 bcm in 2022
- Energy productivity in Croatia improved to 0.18 toe per 1000 EUR GDP in 2022
- Croatia's district heating coverage served 15% of population in 2023
- Biomass energy production in Croatia was 0.8 TWh in 2022
- Croatia's electricity grid losses were 8.2% of gross production in 2022
- Pumped storage hydropower capacity 1,202 MW operational in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's energy import dependency was 72% in 2022
- Geothermal energy potential exploited at 50 MW in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's household electricity prices averaged 0.15 EUR/kWh in 2023
- Natural gas production in Croatia was 1.5 bcm in 2022
- Croatia's energy efficiency investments totaled 250 million EUR in 2022
- Coal consumption for electricity fell 25% to 2.1 Mt in Croatia 2022
- Croatia's total installed electricity capacity was 5.2 GW in 2023
- Electricity exports from Croatia reached 5.6 TWh in 2022
- Croatia's final electricity consumption was 17.2 TWh in 2022
- Waste-to-energy plants in Croatia processed 300,000 tons in 2023
- Croatia's smart meter rollout covered 40% of households by 2023
- Oil refinery capacity in Croatia (INA) was 120,000 bpd in 2022
Energy and Utilities Interpretation
Croatia's energy story is a tug-of-war between its impressive hydropower heritage and a sobering import dependency, proving that even a country blessed with renewable potential must still grapple with the stubborn arithmetic of energy security.
General Industry
- Croatia's industry sector employed 285,000 people or 15.2% of total employment in 2022
- Industry's share in Croatia's GDP was 24.7% in 2022
- Croatia's industrial production index grew 2.8% YoY in 2023
- Industrial exports from Croatia totaled 18.5 billion EUR in 2022
- Croatia's industrial turnover index rose 5.1% in Q1 2024
- Capacity utilization in Croatian industry averaged 78.2% in 2023
- Industry R&D expenditure in Croatia 0.9% of GDP or 450 million EUR in 2022
- Croatia's industrial accidents rate 2.1 per 100 workers in 2022
- Short-time work in industry affected 12,000 workers in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's industrial electricity consumption 8.5 TWh in 2022
- Value added per worker in Croatian industry 45,000 EUR in 2022
- Croatia's industrial trade balance surplus 2.3 billion EUR in 2023
- Digitalization index in Croatian industry 62/100 in 2023
- Croatia's industry greenhouse gas emissions 12.5 Mt CO2eq in 2022
- Female employment share in industry 28% or 80,000 women in Croatia 2022
- Croatia's industrial investment 5.2 billion EUR in fixed assets 2023
- Productivity growth in industry 3.2% YoY in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's industry PMI averaged 50.8 in 2023
- Energy costs share in industry output 8.7% in Croatia 2022
- Croatia's industrial SMEs numbered 12,500 with 150,000 employees in 2022
- Export sophistication index for Croatian industry 45/100 in 2022
- Croatia's industry labor costs index up 7.5% in 2023
- Waste generation from industry 4.2 million tons in Croatia 2022
- Croatia's industry received 1.2 billion EUR EU structural funds 2021-2027
- Industrial clusters in Croatia: 15 active with 2,500 firms in 2023
General Industry Interpretation
Croatia's industrial engine, while modestly sized at 15% of the workforce, proves to be a surprisingly robust and export-driven powerhouse, generating nearly a quarter of the nation's GDP and a healthy trade surplus, yet it sputters with middling digitalization, a concerning gender gap, and a high environmental cost, hinting at an economy that punches above its weight but still has its gloves tied in key areas.
Manufacturing
- Croatia's manufacturing sector accounted for 16.8% of GDP in 2022 with a value added of 13.2 billion EUR
- In 2023, Croatia's food and beverage manufacturing subsector produced 2.1 million tons of processed goods
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing in Croatia generated 1.45 billion EUR in revenue in 2022
- Croatia's metal products manufacturing output increased by 4.2% YoY in Q1 2024 to 1.8 billion EUR
- Textile manufacturing employment in Croatia stood at 12,500 workers in 2022
- In 2021, Croatia's chemical manufacturing sector exported 2.3 billion EUR worth of products
- Machinery and equipment manufacturing value added was 1.9 billion EUR in Croatia 2022
- Croatia's paper and wood products manufacturing production reached 850,000 tons in 2023
- Electrical equipment manufacturing in Croatia grew 5.1% in 2023, employing 8,200 people
- Croatia's plastics manufacturing output was 450,000 tons in 2022
- Furniture manufacturing exports from Croatia totaled 620 million EUR in 2022
- Croatia's automotive parts manufacturing revenue hit 950 million EUR in 2023
- Shipbuilding manufacturing in Croatia delivered 15 vessels worth 1.2 billion EUR in 2022
- Croatia's tobacco manufacturing production was 18 billion cigarettes in 2022
- Non-metallic minerals manufacturing (excl. cement) output 1.1 million tons in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's manufacturing PMI index averaged 51.2 in 2023
- Refined petroleum manufacturing in Croatia produced 4.2 million tons in 2022
- Croatia's apparel manufacturing employed 15,400 in 2021
- Basic metals manufacturing value added 1.2 billion EUR in Croatia 2022
- Croatia's printing and reproduction of recorded media output 120 million EUR in 2023
- Leather and related products manufacturing exports 45 million EUR from Croatia 2022
- Croatia's other transport equipment manufacturing revenue 300 million EUR in 2022
- Computer, electronic and optical products manufacturing grew 3.8% in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's coke and refined petroleum products manufacturing turnover 2.5 billion EUR 2022
- Rubber products manufacturing production 80,000 tons in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's manufacturing energy intensity was 0.45 toe per 1000 EUR VA in 2021
- Fabricated metal products excl. machinery employment 25,000 in Croatia 2022
- Croatia's beverages manufacturing output value 1.8 billion EUR in 2022
- Wearing apparel manufacturing turnover declined 2.1% to 450 million EUR in 2023
- Croatia's food manufacturing subsector value added 3.2 billion EUR in 2022
Manufacturing Interpretation
While Croatia’s industrial tapestry is more intricate than a shipyard’s wiring diagram—spanning from pharmaceuticals fueling its economy to textiles stitching together employment—the sector ultimately stands as a sturdy, if occasionally creaking, backbone rather than a glittering crown jewel.
Mining
- Croatia's mining sector GDP contribution was 1.2% or 1.1 billion EUR in 2022
- Bauxite production in Croatia totaled 1.2 million tons in 2022
- Croatia's limestone quarrying output 25 million tons in 2023
- Gypsum mining production 450,000 tons in Croatia 2022
- Croatia's metal ores extraction value 850 million EUR in 2022
- Sand and gravel production 18 million m3 in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's mining employment 5,200 persons in 2022
- Coal mining output 2.5 million tons anthracite in Croatia 2022
- Salt production from mines 120,000 tons in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's quarrying turnover 1.2 billion EUR in 2022
- Stone dressing and polishing output 3.5 million tons in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's natural gas extraction 150 million m3 in 2022 from onshore fields
- Crude oil production 12,000 bpd in Croatia 2023
- Clay and kaolin mining 800,000 tons in Croatia 2022
- Croatia's mining investment 450 million EUR in 2023
- Other non-metallic minerals extraction 2.1 million tons in 2022
- Croatia's bauxite exports 1.1 million tons valued 120 million USD in 2022
- Mining productivity index rose 4.1% in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's underground mining operations: 3 active coal mines in 2022
- Decorative stone quarrying revenue 250 million EUR in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's mining safety incidents: 2 fatalities in 2022
- Phosphate rock mining negligible but explored 50,000 tons in Croatia 2023
- Croatia's aggregate mining for construction 22 million tons in 2022
- Mining equipment imports to Croatia 180 million EUR in 2023
Mining Interpretation
Though Croatia's mining industry may only be a 1.2% slice of the economic pie, it's a remarkably robust and diverse slice, quietly digging, quarrying, and polishing everything from bauxite and limestone to a nation's foundation, all while becoming safer and more productive.
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