Price Dynamics and Competitiveness in the Croatian Milk and Meat Sectors

Purpose: This study analyzes market developments in the Croatian milk and meat sectors from 2015 to 2024, focusing on price movements, foreign trade, and selected structural factors related to competitiveness. Design/Methodology: The paper uses secondary data from national and international statistical and institutional sources, supplemented by publicly available trade data. The analysis combines descriptive statistics with year-on-year indicators, three-year moving averages, index analysis, and non-parametric tests. Findings: Milk prices remained relatively stable until 2020, then increased sharply, with the largest annual rise in 2022 (25.69%), before declining slightly in 2024 (-3.61%). The post-2020 increase was statistically significant (p = .0095). Meat prices rose more gradually, but the upward trend was evident across all categories and was also statistically significant. Among meat categories, poultry recorded the highest relative price growth compared with 2015, while beef showed the largest absolute increase. During the observed period, imports of both milk and meat generally grew more strongly than exports, indicating rising import dependence and persistent structural weaknesses in domestic production. Practical Implications: The findings may help producers, processors, and policymakers assess pricing pressures, investment needs, and measures to improve productivity and reduce exposure to market shocks. Originality/Value: This study provides an integrated view of price and trade developments in the Croatian milk and meat sectors over a ten-year period and relates these trends to broader issues of competitiveness, market vulnerability, and structural adjustment.