Eastern European operations are spread over Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Ex-Yugoslavia, and Baltic States. Eastern Europe is going through a reconstruction phase both politically and economically. Predominantly, these are industrial economies with prominence of manufacturing and services sectors but still with an important agricultural sector in some countries. It is important to understand the economy of this region for Eastern Europe procurement.

Czech Republic

This European state is EU (European Union) integrated and follows a relatively conservative market economy. Its strategic location, trained human resource, and thoroughly developed infrastructure encourage the export industries.

Exports and Resources – Exports of Czech Republic include machineries, motor vehicles, iron and steel, electrical appliances, chemicals, and furniture. In 2012 this nation achieved exports worth US $136 billion. Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, France, Italy, Russia, Netherlands, UK, USA and Russia are the principal trading partners.

Natural resources of this county includes coal, kaolin, graphite, and timber; while its agricultural products include wheat, hops, sugar beet, potato, and fruit. Metallurgy, manufacturing, motor vehicles, and glass are the notable industries.

Poland

Poland since 1990 is undergoing a phase of economic liberalization. This nation’s economy is dominated by services and industries sector contributing 62 percent and 34 percent respectively towards GDP.

Exports and Resources – Automobiles, aircrafts, manufactured home equipments, processed food and coal are the principal exports. This country recorded exports worth US $160 billion in 2012. Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, France, and United Kingdom are the premier trading partners.

Farm products comprise fruits, vegetable, potato, wheat, poultry, dairy and pork. Natural resources include coal, sulfur, coal, silver, copper, lead, amber and natural gas. Iron and steel, shipbuilding, machine manufacturing, chemicals, beverages, glass, textiles and food processing are the leading industries of this East European nation.

Slovakia

Slovakia, alike its other East European counterparts is dominated by industries and related services. Services sector accounts for more than 69 percent of GDP followed by 27 percent by industrial segment. Slovakia after becoming a part of EU (European Union) in 2004 experienced significant growth in electronics and automotive segments.

Exports and Resources – The notable exports of Slovakia include machineries, automobiles, chemicals, base metals, electrical gadgets, and minerals. Mineral resources comprise coal, manganese ore, copper, and iron ore. Grains, hops, potato, fruit, and sugar beet are the main agricultural products. Poultry, pigs, and cattle are other prominent resources of Slovakia.

This East European country achieved an export of US $55 billion annually. Czech Republic, Germany, Poland and France are the principal trading partners of this nation.

Hungary

This industrialized economy is dominated by the services sector which accounts for more than 64 percent of GDP. The contribution of industrial segment is almost 31 percent.

Exports and Resources – Metallurgy, automobiles, chemical, textile, steel, iron, fuel and processed foods are the leading exports of this nation. All these items are exported. An estimate of US $112 billion of exports was recorded. This nation is rich in coal, bauxite, and natural gas. Farm products of this country include corn, wheat, sugar beet, potato, and sunflower seed. Dairy products, cattle, pig, and poultry are other prominent farm related activities.

Germany is the principal trading partner of Hungary while other trading countries include Austria, Poland, Slovakia, France, Italy, Romania, and UK are the main trading partners.

Bulgaria

This former communist nation became a part of European Union in 2007 and is now committed to industrial development and growth. As of date, services sector contributes more than 63 percent towards GDP followed by 31 percent from industrial sector.

Exports and Resources – The principal exports of this county include industrial machineries, equipments, extracted iron, steel, fuels, footwear and clothing. The nation has vast resources of coal, bauxite, zinc, lead, copper and timber. Among farm products, sugar beet, wheat, barley, fruits, vegetable, sunflower, tobacco, and wine are notable. Livestock rearing is another crucial primary activity in this nation. According to latest estimates Bulgaria achieved exports worth US $27.6 billion.

Germany, Romania, Belgium, France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey are the prominent countries of export from this country.

Romania

Romania together with Bulgaria became a part of EU in 2007. This predominantly industrialized nation is dominated by services sector which contributes more than 59 percent of GDP while the contribution of industrial sector in nearly 33 percent.

Exports and Resources – This country is principally an exporter of industrial machineries and equipments followed by textiles, footwear, chemicals, metals, metallic goods, fuels, minerals, and agricultural products. These agricultural goods include sugar beet, potato, wheat, barley, corn, grapes, timber and sunflower seed. Sheep and egg are other noticeable items of produce. Automobile assembly, food processing, petroleum refining, electric machineries, chemicals, and construction materials are leading industries of this nation.

Romania exported goods and services worth US $67.7 billion as per latest estimates. Germany, Hungary, France, Italy, and Turkey are the main buyers of Romanian exports.

Ex-Yugoslavia

Ex-Yugoslavia segregated into Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia.

Exports and Resources of Croatia – Machineries, transport equipments, chemicals, textiles, fuels, and foodstuff are the chief exports of this country. Sugar beet, potato, wheat, barley, corn, alfalfa, pepper, tomato, onion, cabbage, apples, grapes, olive, and plum are notable farm products of Croatia. Livestock, dairy products, and wine are other noteworthy primary products. Coal, oil, bauxite, iron ore, gypsum, calcium, mica, and silica are natural resources of this country.

As per latest estimates Croatia exports amounted to US $13 billion. Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Italy and Austria are the principal trading partners.

Exports and Resources of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Wood products, clothing, and metals are the chief exports of this nation. Resources constitute fruits, vegetables, corn, wheat, and livestock. Iron ore, bauxite, coal, zinc, lead, manganese, bauxite and timber are notable natural resources of this country.

Exports of US$5.4 billion were achieved as per latest records. Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, and Italy are the main trading partners.

Exports and Resources of Serbia – Serbia has a huge list of export items that include iron, steel, metal products, non-ferrous metals, automobiles, weapons, electric appliances, rubber items, clothes, fruits, vegetables and wheat. Resources of Serbia comprise sugar beet, wheat, maize, raspberries, and sunflower. Dairy products, pork, and beef are other important produces of this country.

According to latest estimates this nation achieved exports worth more than US $12 billion.

Exports and Resources of Montenegro – Consumer goods, food products, aluminum, steel, and livestock are the principal exports of this country. Citrus fruits, potato, grapes, olive, and tobacco are chief farm products.

Exports worth US $640 million were recorded as per latest estimates. Hungary, Serbia, and Croatia are the trading countries.

Exports and Resources of Macedonia – This country is a principal exporter of food stuff, beverages, textiles, tobacco, and processed iron. Agricultural produce includes fruits, vegetables, tobacco, poultry and dairy items.

Germany, Greece, Bulgaria, and Italy are its main trading partners. This nation recorded exports worth US $4.3 billion as per latest estimates.

Baltic States

Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania are the nations representing Baltic States in Europe

Exports and Resources of Latvia – Exports of Latvia include food items, timber, wood products, textiles, equipments and machineries, metal and metal products. Grain, potato, rapeseed, and vegetables are the primary agricultural items grown here. Fish, eggs, and dairy products are other noticeable items or produce.

Exports worth US $15.9 billion were achieved as per latest records. The chief trading partners comprise Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, Germany, and Poland.

Exports and Resources of Estonia – Industrial goods make up grater portion of this country’s exports like electrical equipments, machineries, automobile parts, textiles and plastic. Other items of export include timber, wooden goods, furniture, metals, food stuff and beverages.

As per latest estimates Estonia achieved exports worth US $17.4 billion. The predominant nations of export are Finland, Sweden, Russia, Lithuania, Germany, and Latvia.

Exports and Resources of Lithuania – Lithuania chiefly exports minerals such as peat and amber. Other goods of exports comprise chemicals, equipments, machineries, foodstuff, textiles, and plastic. This country grows sugar beet, potato, grains, and vegetable in abundance. Fish, eggs, beef, and milk are produced in large quantities.

Russia, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Belarus, and Netherlands are the primary buyers of Lithuanian exports. As per latest records this nation exported goods and services worth US $29 billion.

For further details on Eastern Europe procurement, please contact us.