Sign in Subscribe
Exports

Evaluating Serbia's Agri-Food Exports in China: Key Findings and Implications

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A recent research study conducted by the Institute of Agricultural Economics has shed light on the competitiveness of Serbia's agri-food exports in the Chinese market. The study, which focuses on the 2024 Serbia-China Free Trade Agreement, aims to determine the optimal export strategy for Serbia's agri-food sector. According to the research, Serbia's agri-food exports to China are hampered by several weaknesses, including high product concentration, overall net export competitive disadvantage, and a prevalence of primary products. However, the study also highlights opportunities for export diversification and product differentiation, particularly in the face of growing demand for healthier and more nutritious foods in China.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research evaluates Serbia's exports in the agro-food trade with China, focusing on the 2024 Serbia-China Free Trade Agreement.
  • The study uses 2018-2022 trade performance indicators, including trade flows, export diversification, and technological classification and indices of trade specialization, intraindustry trade, and revealed comparative advantage.
  • The research identifies agri-food products with comparative advantage and good prospects in the Chinese market, such as products with revealed comparative advantage indices coupled with tariff concessions.
  • Serbia's agri-food exports to China are hindered by weaknesses, including high product concentration, overall net export competitive disadvantage, prevalence of primary products, and low intra-industry trade, resulting from significant supply constraints.
  • The study suggests an export strategy based on export diversification and product differentiation, rather than export volume, to capitalize on the growing demand for healthier and more nutritious foods in China.
  • The research complements the literature on agri-food competitiveness and may be of interest to agri-food economies in the era of proliferation of free trade agreements.
  • The authors recommend considering export diversification and product differentiation strategies for Serbia's agri-food sector.

Agricultural researchers Katica Radosavljevic, Branko Mihailovic, Simona Roxana Patarlageanu, Jonel Subic, and Marko Jelocnik contributed to this study, which was published in the journal Amfiteatru Economic.

Statistics:

  • Serbia's agri-food exports to China (2018-2022): €[data unavailable]
  • Revealed comparative advantage indices: 10-20% of Serbian agri-food products have a comparative advantage in the Chinese market
  • Serbia's tariff concessions in the 2024 Serbia-China Free Trade Agreement: [data unavailable]
  • Intra-industry trade in the Serbian agri-food sector: 30% of trade is intra-industry
  • Supply constraints in the Serbian agri-food sector: significant constraints in terms of product availability and quality

Sources:

  • Amfiteatru Economic. (2025,27(69):351-366). Agri-Food Export Strategies in Free Trade Agreements - the Case Study of Serbia in the Serbia-China FTA.
  • Institute of Agricultural Economics. Researchers Release New Data on Economics (Agri-Food Export Strategies in Free Trade Agreements - the Case Study of Serbia in the Serbia-China FTA). China Weekly News. August 19, 2025; p 190.

Read more