The twenty imports Bosnia and Herzegovina is best placed to replace.
Bosnia and Herzegovina imported USD 13bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 7.5bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well, with how concentrated the supply of each is.
Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.
Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Bosnia and Herzegovina already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Bosnia and Herzegovina would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.
This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Bosnia and Herzegovina does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.
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1
Cigarettes: containing tobaccoHS 240220
Comes fromSerbia 66%, 11 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 13kCountries that export it well41Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 71m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 21 per cent (2); Serbia supplies 66 per cent (2).
USD 71mup 60% on 2022 -
2
Dog or cat food: (not put up for retail sale), used in animal feedingHS 230990
Comes fromSerbia 53%, 30 source countriesNearest export strengthFood preparations: sweet biscuits, whether or not containing cocoa (exports USD 29m)Exports of this lineUSD 2m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 30mCountries that export it well48Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 74m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1); Serbia supplies 53 per cent (1).
USD 74mup 14% on 2022 -
3
Food preparations: bakers' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty...HS 190590
Comes fromSerbia 22%, 48 source countriesNearest export strengthFood preparations: sweet biscuits, whether or not containing cocoa (exports USD 29m)Exports of this lineUSD 14mCountries that export it well47Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 65m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2).
USD 65mup 37% on 2022 -
4
T-shirts, singlets and other vests: of cotton, knitted or crochetedHS 610910
Comes fromBangladesh 40%, 81 source countriesNearest export strengthShirts: men's or boys', of man-made fibres (not knitted or crocheted) (exports USD 1m)Exports of this lineUSD 11mCountries that export it well38Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 46m, top 14 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 14 per cent (2); Bangladesh supplies 40 per cent (1).
USD 46mup 32% on 2022 -
5
Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10HS 210690
Comes fromSerbia 18%, 66 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 14mCountries that export it well51Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 163m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 38 per cent (1).
USD 163mup 32% on 2022 -
6
Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars)HS 401110
Comes fromChina 17%, 41 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 1m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 30mCountries that export it well28Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 81m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1).
USD 81mup 31% on 2022 -
7
Plastics: other articles n.e.c. in chapter 39HS 392690
Comes fromGermany 24%, 84 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 19mCountries that export it well23Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 61m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 50 per cent (1).
USD 61mup 15% on 2022 -
8
Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa: n.e.c. in chapter 18HS 180690
Comes fromSerbia 19%, 41 source countriesNearest export strengthChocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa: in blocks... (exports USD 4m)Exports of this lineUSD 8m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 35mCountries that export it well35Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 57m, top 10 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 28 per cent (1).
USD 57mup 28% on 2022 -
9
Particle board of wood, whether or not agglomerated with resins or other organic binding substancesHS 441011
Comes fromCroatia 28%, 20 source countriesNearest export strengthWood: cases, boxes, crates, drums, similar packings and cable-drums (exports USD 12m)Exports of this lineUSD 278kCountries that export it well38Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 52m, top 11 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2).
USD 52mdown 12% on 2022 -
10
Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: containing the three fertilizing elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassiumHS 310520
Comes fromRussia 54%, 20 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 131kCountries that export it well35Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 27m, top 32 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 25 per cent (2); Russia supplies 54 per cent (1).
USD 27mdown 8% on 2022 -
11
Paper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboardHS 481910
Comes fromCroatia 41%, 42 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 3mCountries that export it well46Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 24m, top 40 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 23 per cent (2); Croatia supplies 41 per cent (1).
USD 24mdown 12% on 2022 -
12
Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterHS 170199
Comes fromSerbia 63%, 23 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 5mCountries that export it well44Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 23m, top 42 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 33 per cent (1); Serbia supplies 63 per cent (2).
USD 23mup 94% on 2022 -
13
Plastics: plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, other than cellularHS 392190
Comes fromItaly 24%, 48 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 2mCountries that export it well30Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 37m, top 20 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 47 per cent (1).
USD 37mup 14% on 2022 -
14
Sugar confectionery: (excluding chewing gum, including white chocolate), not containing cocoaHS 170490
Comes fromTurkey 19%, 52 source countriesNearest export strengthJams, fruit jellies, marmalades, purees and pastes: of fruit or nuts... (exports USD 4m)Exports of this lineUSD 564kCountries that export it well37Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 35m, top 22 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1).
USD 35mup 38% on 2022 -
15
Sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasoningsHS 210390
Comes fromSerbia 46%, 41 source countriesNearest export strengthSauces: tomato ketchup and other tomato sauces (exports USD 13m)Exports of this lineUSD 3mCountries that export it well45Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 29m, top 29 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 38 per cent (1); Serbia supplies 46 per cent (1).
USD 29mup 28% on 2022 -
16
Vehicles: public transport type (carries 10 or more persons, including driver), with only compression-ignition...HS 870210
Comes fromGermany 41%, 20 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 1mCountries that export it well30Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 27m, top 33 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 39 per cent (1); Germany supplies 41 per cent (1).
USD 27mup 109% on 2022 -
17
Glass: carboys, bottles, flasks, jars, pots, phials and other containers of glass, (not ampoules), used for the...HS 701090
Comes fromCroatia 54%, 42 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 2mCountries that export it well38Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 26m, top 35 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 26 per cent (1); Croatia supplies 54 per cent (1).
USD 26mup 22% on 2022 -
18
Ice cream and other edible ice: whether or not containing cocoaHS 210500
Comes fromSerbia 42%, 16 source countriesNearest export strengthMeat preparations: sausages and similar products, of meat, meat... (exports USD 7m)Exports of this lineUSD 1mCountries that export it well37Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 24m, top 38 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 28 per cent (1); Serbia supplies 42 per cent (1).
USD 24mup 39% on 2022 -
19
Iron or non-alloy steel: (not in coils), flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, without patterns in...HS 720852
Comes fromSerbia 50%, 20 source countriesNearest export strengthDomestic appliances: non-electric, (other than cookers and plate... (exports USD 8m)Exports of this lineUSD 41k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 56mCountries that export it well27Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 23m, top 40 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 44 per cent (1); Serbia supplies 50 per cent (1).
USD 23mdown 42% on 2022 -
20
Trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts: men's or boys', of cotton (not knitted or crocheted)HS 620342
Comes fromBangladesh 35%, 62 source countriesNearest export strengthTrousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts: men's or... (exports USD 2m)Exports of this lineUSD 7mCountries that export it well39Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 21m, top 47 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Bosnia and Herzegovina's export strengths in the top 14 per cent (2).
USD 21mup 11% on 2022
One line per customs heading. Products Bosnia and Herzegovina already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.
Scale conversations, not capability ones.
- Beer: made from malt imports USD 103m, exports USD 8m, top source Serbia 58%
- Washing and cleaning preparations: powders, flakes and granules... imports USD 67m, exports USD 12m, top source Croatia 23%
- Waters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other... imports USD 83m, exports USD 32m, top source Croatia 25%
- Non-alcoholic beverages: other than non-alcoholic beer, n.e.c. in item no.... imports USD 56m, exports USD 8m, top source Serbia 57%
- Vinyl chloride polymers: monofilament, of which any cross-sectional dimension... imports USD 56m, exports USD 16m, top source Germany 64%
- Hosiery and footwear: without applied soles, of cotton, knitted or crocheted... imports USD 42m, exports USD 4m, top source Croatia 39%
- Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially coloured imports USD 48m, exports USD 12m, top source Croatia 93%
- Iron or steel (excluding cast iron): tubes, pipes and hollow profiles (not... imports USD 39m, exports USD 4m, top source Serbia 45%
- Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa: in blocks, slabs or... imports USD 37m, exports USD 4m, top source Croatia 32%
- Meat preparations: sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal, blood... imports USD 39m, exports USD 7m, top source Serbia 52%
Three scores, each from a field the record carries.
Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 272 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.
Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.
Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.
Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.
A map of where to look.
Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.
Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-03. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.
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