Serbia

Business and economic freedom rankings have been improving in Serbia. However, corruption is endemic and the government is becoming more influential in all aspects of society. Economic growth is expected to outstrip peers and Serbia is viewed ...

Retail volume growth of sanitary protection was stable in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic having little impact on demand. Sanitary protection is an essential item which requires repeat monthly purchases and the strongest performance indicator is the...

According to Serbian health insurance law, there is a defined list of patients who are eligible to receive Rx/reimbursement services. There were no changes to the legislation framework which enables this service in 2020. The service includes the ...

Many products in tissue and hygiene are essential items and these areas generally witnessed little or no impact from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. Products such as sanitary protection, nappies/diapers/pants and adult incontinence are ...

Serbia introduced some of the strictest restrictions in the world in its attempt to manage the spread of the COVID-19 virus, including measures to limit services in and opening hours of consumer foodservice outlets. This had a significantly negative ...

The overall performance of nappies/diapers/pants is dependent on the size of the consumer population it serves. Birth rates were stable in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic and this enabled nappies/diapers/pants to register stable retail volume ...

Retail adult incontinence continued to record steady retail volume growth during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with no real impact from the health crisis. These products are needed by consumers with specific conditions and demand therefore continued...

Baby wipes continued to dominate sales of wipes in 2020. Baby wipes are widely used by virtually all consumers in Serbia, whether they have babies or not. This is because baby wipes are perceived to be gentle and kind to the skin, and they are ...

Retail tissue received a notable boost in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with all products achieving value growth over the course of the year. On the one hand paper towels and tableware benefited from families eating at home more often during the...

Economies that offer an efficient, fast and inexpensive path to starting a business enjoy great dynamism and high FDI intake. A country with a competitive business environment has sound transport and ICT infrastructure; an effective juridical system;...

Understanding the structure, health and potential risks of an economy are important for decision-making within an existing operating environment as well as for expansion strategies. Real GDP growth, inflation and exchange rate fluctuations will ...

Unlike other countries across Europe, the COVID-19 pandemic as not caused apparel and footwear specialist retailers to witness current value decline in 2020. This is because two of the largest shopping centres remained open during lockdown, meaning ...

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery retailers had been declining in terms of outlet numbers, while all modern grocery retailer channels were increasing. This emphasises how the Serbian retailing landscape is being heavily influenced by the ...

Prior to the pandemic, health and beauty specialist retailers continued to record stable levels of growth in Serbia. This growth was due to two very big and strong chains within chemists/pharmacies, Lilly and Drogerie Markt, that recorded high levels...

Despite being permitted to stay open during lockdown, modern grocery retailers will witness slowed growth in 2020 overall. However, this will have little to do with the COVID-19 pandemic and more so the deceleration of discounters, namely Lidl. Prior...

Prior to the pandemic, mixed retailers remained an underdeveloped landscape in Serbia, with only variety stores present. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, mixed retailers will see declining current value sales in 2020 overall. This is due to the ...

At the beginning of the review period, mobile e-commerce was close to being negligible in Serbia. However, towards the end of the review period, the situation changed notably. The country is still far behind the more developed landscapes, but the ...

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, retailing will see slowed growth in 2020 overall. Nevertheless, different channels within retailing have responded differently to the pandemic based on what they sell and how affected they have been by the ...

Prior to the pandemic, e-commerce in Serbia continued to register high levels of growth and this was a trend witnessed throughout the review period. The main drivers of this performance included an increasing number of internet users, with overall ...

Prior to the pandemic, direct selling witnessed a strong result over the review period. This was partly thanks to the good performance of one major player – Herbalife. The player continued to widen its direct seller's network in towards the end of ...