Chemical industry snapshot
Croatia was the birthplace of two Nobel laureates in chemistry, Lavoslav Ru啪i膷ka and Vladimir Prelog. The Croatian industry has a long tradition and an experienced and well-educated work force.鈥�
Chemicals and pharmaceuticals, together with plastics and rubber processing are an integral part of the Croatian economy. Production spans pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, soaps, detergents, polymers, plastics and rubber products, fertilizers, agrochemicals, paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and 铿乴lers, industrial gases, glues and explosives.鈥�
The chemical industry is concentrated around larger towns, especially Zagreb, and generated revenues of 鈧�1.005million in 2022, 2,9% of the manufacturing industry total. Its 409 companies employed 5,969 people.鈥�
Pharmaceuticals employ another 6.155 people across 70 companies that generated revenues of 鈧�1,142 million, 3,3% of the manufacturing industry total. Plastics and rubber had 鈧�1,345 million of revenues in 2022, spread across 801 registered companies employing 9,778 workers.鈥�
Most companies are SMEs (407) and they mostly serve the domestic market. They are busy restructuring and modernising production processes to meet European standards, reduce operating costs and achieve international quality certi铿乧ation.鈥�
Many companies, especially larger ones, are also export-oriented mostly to countries in the same region. In 2022 chemicals export was 鈧�1.210 million, pharmaceuticals export was 鈧�1.055 million and plastics and rubber export was 鈧�753 million.鈥�
How are we doing?
Strengths
- Long history and tradition鈥�
- Highly skilled work-force鈥�
- Advanced technology鈥�
- High-quality and price-competitive products鈥�
- Excellent geostrategic location within Europe with access to Central Europe, the Mediterranean and three Pan-European corridors鈥�
- Seaports and most modern transport infrastructure in the region鈥�
- Rising domestic demand鈥�
Challenges
- Dependence on imported raw materials鈥�
- Uncertainty over fuel supplies鈥�
- High energy and logistic costs鈥�
- Lack of investment in new and innovative products鈥�
- Insufficient investment in marketing鈥�
- Inadequate links between companies and research institutions to develop new products and improve technology鈥�
- High cost of taxes, levies and utility charges鈥�
- Pressure to increase tax take from heavy public sector de铿乧it鈥�
- High administrative and regulatory burden
Our contribution to a competitive Europe
Collaborating to innovate
Universities and research institutes are working with industry organisations, under the umbrella of the Croatian Chamber of Economy, to strengthen co-operation between science and our industry sectors to increase competitiveness.鈥�
