This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 2/19/2019

Overview
Slovenia’s agricultural sector has declined in recent years as small farmers increasingly leave family farms and integrate into the non-agricultural workforce, while arable land is increasingly being replaced by construction and transport infrastructure.  To reverse these trends, the government has tried to revive rural areas through policy initiatives and subsidies to support eco-farming and encouraging eco-tourism.  Slovenia is a net food importer and its food self-sufficiency is quite low.  Slovenian farms produce less than 20 percent of the country’s fruit consumption, less than 40 percent of its vegetables, less than 50 percent of its potatoes, and less than 60 percent of its cereals, sugar, and pork.   

According to the Statistical Office of Slovenia, the value of its agricultural production amounted to EUR 1.22 billion in 2016 (2.3% of GDP), and the sector employed approximately 80,000 people, accounting for 7.8% of the workforce.  Currently, 69,902 Slovenian holdings are engaged in agricultural activities, averaging 6.9 hectares and 7.5 livestock units.  The primary crops are corn (339,000 tons/year), wheat (157,000 tons/year), potatoes, and fruit (apples alone account for over 71,000 tons/year).  More than one million tons of corn and other types of fodder are produced annually, with most grain production destined for animal feed. 

U.S. exports of agricultural, fish, and forest products to Slovenia have fluctuated widely in recent years.  Most official statistics tend to understate actual imports from the U.S., as they do not account for products transshipped through other EU countries.

Leading Sub-Sectors
•           Organic products
•           Biotech

Opportunities
A number of U.S. food products benefit from lower tariffs due to Slovenia’s EU membership and have the best sales potential, including organic products, edible dried beans, cocoa, dried fruits, fruit juices, pet foods, wines, and whiskey. 

Web Resources
Additional information regarding Slovenia’s agricultural policy, projects, and legislation is available through the Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food at and the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia.

U.S. Commercial Service
Mirjana Rabič, Economic Commercial Specialist
Phone: +386 1 200 5500
Fax: +386 1 200 5555
E-mail: DoingBusinessinSlovenia@state.gov
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.