Serbia’s construction sector grew 12.5% and contributed 6.8% to GDP, while building permits reached 15.2 million square meters in 2023. Electricity demand is also reshaping the mix, with renewables lifting their share to 32% in 2023 and exports rising to 5.8 TWh. The following Serbia industry statistics summarize the biggest moves across production, trade, and employment.
Key Takeaways
- Serbia's construction sector grew by 12.5% in 2022, contributing 6.8% to GDP
- Serbia's total installed electricity capacity was 7,800 MW in 2023
- Serbia's industrial employment totaled 320,000 workers in 2023, 25% of total employment
- Serbia's manufacturing industry contributed 14.5% to GDP in 2022 with a total output value of €12.3 billion
- Serbia's copper mining production reached 22,000 tons in 2022, primary for RTB Bor
Serbia’s industry sector shows steady growth with strong output and investment signals for the economy.
Related reading
01 · Category
Construction Sector18 stats
01
Serbia's construction sector grew by 12.5% in 2022, contributing 6.8% to GDP
02
Building permits issued for 15.2 million square meters in 2023, up 8.4%
03
Residential construction output value was €4.1 billion in 2022
04
Road construction contracts totaled €2.3 billion in 2023 for highways
05
Non-residential building completions reached 2.8 million sqm in 2022
06
Concrete production for construction was 12.5 million cubic meters in 2023
07
Bridge construction projects numbered 45 in 2022, with €650 million invested
08
Cement production for construction sector was 2.6 million tons in 2023
09
Housing starts increased 11.2% to 28,000 units in 2022
10
Public infrastructure construction spending was €1.8 billion in 2023
11
Steel usage in construction reached 850,000 tons in 2022
12
Railway construction output value €450 million in 2023 for modernization
13
Commercial real estate developments totaled 1.2 million sqm in 2022
14
Water supply infrastructure built 320 km of pipelines in 2023
15
Industrial facilities construction permits issued for 450,000 sqm in 2022
16
Construction material prices rose 11.3% in 2022
17
Belgrade Waterfront construction cost €1.5 billion by 2023
18
Highway construction 45 km completed in 2023, €320 million
Interpretation
Construction Sector Interpretation
Serbia's construction sector is frantically building the future from the ground up, laying everything from highways and housing to pipelines and penthouses, all while fighting a spirited battle with inflation as its constant sidekick.
02 · Category
Electricity and Energy21 stats
01
Serbia's total installed electricity capacity was 7,800 MW in 2023
02
Thermal power plants generated 25.4 TWh of electricity in 2022, 70% of total production
03
Hydroelectric production reached 6.2 TWh in 2023 from Đerdap and other plants
04
Lignite-fired power output was 18.5 TWh in 2022 from EPS plants
05
Renewable energy share in electricity production was 32% in 2023, up from 28% in 2022
06
Natural gas consumption for industry was 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2022
07
Solar PV installed capacity grew to 250 MW in 2023
08
Wind power generation totaled 1.1 TWh in 2022 from 400 MW capacity
09
Electricity exports from Serbia reached 5.8 TWh in 2023 to neighboring countries
10
Coal consumption for power generation was 30 million tons in 2022
11
Biomass energy production contributed 0.4 TWh in 2023
12
Transmission losses in electricity grid were 8.2% in 2022
13
Pumped storage hydro capacity is 600 MW at Đerdap 2 in 2023
14
District heating supplied by cogeneration plants covered 45% of urban needs in 2022
15
Oil refinery output at NIS Pančevo was 3.2 million tons in 2023
16
Gasoline production totaled 1.1 million tons in 2022
17
Diesel fuel production reached 1.8 million tons in 2023 from NIS refinery
18
Serbia electricity consumption was 32.5 TWh in 2022, industry 45%
19
Gas-fired power generation 2.1 TWh in 2023
20
HPP Iron Gates I generated 5.4 TWh in 2022
21
Wind farm Kovačica capacity 106 MW, producing 0.25 TWh yearly
Interpretation
Electricity and Energy Interpretation
Serbia's energy landscape is currently a story of two realities: it leans heavily on its smoky, lignite-rich past, accounting for over half its power, while simultaneously building a more sustainable future with notable growth in renewables and a surprisingly robust export business.
03 · Category
Industrial Employment and Investment18 stats
01
Serbia's industrial employment totaled 320,000 workers in 2023, 25% of total employment
02
FDI in industry reached €1.2 billion in 2022, mainly manufacturing
03
Average wage in manufacturing sector was €650 net in 2023, up 9.2%
04
Industrial R&D expenditure was 0.45% of GDP in 2022, €320 million total
05
Unemployment rate in industrial sectors was 7.8% in Q4 2023
06
Labor productivity in industry grew 5.1% to €28,500 per worker in 2022
07
Investment in industrial machinery reached €2.5 billion in 2023
08
Female employment in industry was 32% of total industrial workforce in 2022
09
Vocational training programs for industry trained 15,000 workers in 2023
10
Energy sector employment was 28,500 in 2022
11
Construction employment totaled 185,000 in 2023, 14% growth since 2020
12
Mining employment was 12,200 workers in 2022, average wage €850
13
Private sector investment in industry €4.8 billion in 2023
14
Union membership in industry 35% of workforce in 2022
15
Digital skills training for 8,000 industrial workers in 2023
16
Serbia industrial accidents numbered 1,250 in 2023
17
Industry training funds €45 million in 2022
18
Industrial SMEs employed 150,000 in 2022
Interpretation
Industrial Employment and Investment Interpretation
Serbia's industrial sector is impressively juggling ambitious modernization with a stubborn wage reality, where surging investment, rising productivity, and a hungry-for-skills workforce haven't yet lifted the average factory floor paycheck much beyond the price of a good smartphone.
More related reading
04 · Category
Manufacturing Production27 stats
01
Serbia's manufacturing industry contributed 14.5% to GDP in 2022 with a total output value of €12.3 billion
02
In Q4 2023, Serbia's industrial production index for manufacturing reached 112.4 (2015=100), marking a 5.8% increase from the previous quarter
03
Food manufacturing subsector in Serbia produced 2.1 million tons of processed goods in 2022, accounting for 28% of total manufacturing
04
Serbia's textile and apparel manufacturing employed 45,000 workers in 2023, with exports valued at €1.2 billion
05
Metal processing in manufacturing output grew by 7.2% in 2023, reaching 1.8 million tons of steel products
06
Chemical manufacturing sector in Serbia produced 450,000 tons of fertilizers in 2022, up 3.5% from 2021
07
Furniture manufacturing output in Serbia was €850 million in 2022, with 65% exported to EU markets
08
Pharmaceutical manufacturing in Serbia generated €620 million in revenue in 2023, producing 150 million packs of medicine
09
Rubber and plastics manufacturing subsector output increased 6.1% in 2023 to 320,000 tons
10
Electrical equipment manufacturing in Serbia reached €1.1 billion in 2022, employing 12,500 people
11
Paper and printing industry produced 450,000 tons of paper products in 2022, with a 4.8% growth rate
12
Non-metallic mineral products manufacturing output was €2.4 billion in 2023
13
Machinery manufacturing subsector exported €750 million worth of goods in 2022
14
Leather products manufacturing employed 8,200 workers in 2023, producing 15 million units
15
Wood processing industry output reached 3.2 million cubic meters in 2022, up 5.3%
16
Beverage manufacturing produced 1.2 billion liters in 2023, contributing €1.5 billion to economy
17
Tobacco manufacturing output was 25 billion cigarettes in 2022, with €450 million revenue
18
Basic metals manufacturing produced 1.9 million tons in 2023, growth of 8.1%
19
Fabricated metal products subsector value added €1.8 billion in 2022
20
Computer and electronics manufacturing grew 12.4% in 2023, exports €300 million
21
Manufacturing PMI averaged 52.3 in 2023, indicating expansion
22
Automotive parts manufacturing output €2.1 billion in 2022, exports to Fiat
23
Tire production reached 4.5 million units in 2023 from Tigar factory
24
Aircraft parts manufacturing grew 15% to €120 million in 2022
25
Manufacturing investment incentives attracted €850 million in 2022
26
Steel mill output in Smederevo 2.2 million tons in 2023
27
Electronics manufacturing exports €450 million in 2023
Interpretation
Manufacturing Production Interpretation
While Serbia's industrial backbone might not be glamorous, it’s impressively sturdy—it seems the country runs on a reliable mix of steel, medicine, food, and a surprisingly healthy dose of car parts and cigarettes.
05 · Category
Mining and Quarrying19 stats
01
Serbia's copper mining production reached 22,000 tons in 2022, primary for RTB Bor
02
Coal extraction in Serbia totaled 35.6 million tons in 2023, mainly lignite from Kolubara basin
03
Iron ore production was 1.2 million tons in 2022 from Rudnik mine
04
Zinc and lead concentrate output reached 45,000 tons in 2023 from Trepča complex
05
Bor copper mine produced 180,000 tons of copper cathode in 2022
06
Quarry output for construction aggregates was 28 million tons in 2023
07
Gold production in Serbia totaled 4.5 tons in 2022 from small-scale operations
08
Salt production reached 120,000 tons in 2023 from Pančevo plant
09
Limestone quarrying produced 15 million tons in 2022 for cement industry
10
Bauxite mining output was 1.8 million tons in 2023 from smaller deposits
11
Sand and gravel extraction totaled 10.5 million cubic meters in 2022
12
Silver production in Serbia was 25 tons in 2023 as byproduct of copper mining
13
Clay and kaolin output reached 650,000 tons in 2022 for ceramics
14
Phosphate rock mining produced 200,000 tons in 2023
15
Dimension stone quarrying output was 1.2 million tons in 2022
16
Serbia's nickel mining production was 1,200 tons in 2022
17
Gypsum quarrying output 450,000 tons in 2023
18
Bor mine copper concentrate 250,000 tons in 2023
19
Lead production 18,000 tons in 2022 from Rudnik
Interpretation
Mining and Quarrying Interpretation
Serbia's industrial spine is clearly built from copper, coal, and grit, with a healthy side of precious metals, as it tirelessly excavates its geological pantry to keep the lights on, the cement poured, and its economic engine humming.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Helena Kowalczyk. (2026, February 13). Serbia Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/serbia-industry-statistics
MLA
Helena Kowalczyk. "Serbia Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/serbia-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Helena Kowalczyk. 2026. "Serbia Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/serbia-industry-statistics.
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