Miodrag Đuranović, councilor of the Civic Movement URA in the Podgorica City Assembly, warned that Montenegro continues to experience a troubling trade imbalance, with data from the first eight months of the year showing an alarming trend.
According to Đuranović, Montenegro’s exports fell by 4.6%, totaling only €365.7 million, while imports increased by 6.5%, reaching €2.887 billion. Food import coverage by domestic production stands at a mere 7.7%, highlighting the neglect of local agriculture.
He emphasized that farmers are facing surpluses, particularly in the dairy sector, where thousands of liters of milk go unsold. Milk processors are overstocked, and regional restrictions on raw milk imports exacerbate the problem. The Ministry of Agriculture has repeatedly responded too late or not at all.
Đuranović placed the primary responsibility on the government, citing uncontrolled imports of milk and dairy products, which have risen by €5 million (8.2%) compared to last year. Imported goods are often sold at lower prices than in their country of origin, while support for domestic producers remains minimal and ineffective.
URA has long proposed concrete solutions, including agreements requiring retailers to allocate at least 50% of shelf space to domestic products in sectors where local production exists, as well as secondary displays and promotional campaigns to manage surpluses. Initiatives such as “Dobro iz Crne Gore” and “Kupujmo domaće” are also key to boosting domestic product consumption.
Đuranović concluded that only coordinated action by the government, producers, and retailers can save Montenegro’s agricultural sector. He noted that even a small daily expenditure of one euro per capita on domestic products could reduce imports by up to 25%.