The indicator shows the coverage of food imports by exports in Slovenia, which gives the information about the foreign trade balance. The import coverage is expressed as a percentage (%), where a share greater than 100 means that the value of food exports exceeds the value of imports, i.e. the country is a net exporter. A share of less than 100 means that the value of imports exceeds the value of exports, i.e. the country is a net importer.

Within the indicator, the coverage of total food and beverages imports by exports in the period 2000–2021, the coverage of food and beverages imports from neighbouring countries, the coverage of imports of certain food groups and the comparison of the export-import ratio of food and beverages among EU-27 Member States are presented.

The ratio between the value of food exports and imports is important for monitoring the export orientation of production, food security, and food availability in a country. A coverage of imports by exports, which is less than 100%, means that the trade balance with foreign countries is negative. i.e. more food is imported than exported. In general, countries aim to maximise the coverage of imports by exports. Exports to foreign markets promote competitiveness in production and thus productivity and innovation. Sales on foreign markets generate an important share of revenues in the economy, contributing to economic growth and progress, and cover the cost of importing goods. The ratio between the two trade flows is also related to the level of food self-sufficiency. Countries that are self-sufficient and produce surpluses of products tend to be net exporters of food, while countries that are not 100% self-sufficient must also ensure food security through imports from other countries (net importers). Achieving food security through domestic food production and minimising dependence on imports from other countries are important elements of national security, especially in times of insecurity (political and other instabilities) and major price fluctuations on global markets (Revizijsko poročilo …, 2021). Global megatrends show that an increasingly variable climate may have a negative impact on the quantity and quality of food produced in Slovenia in the future (Sadauskis et al., 2019). This may also increase the dependence on global food markets and affect the export-import ratio. Therefore, the resilience of agriculture to climatic and other conditions, the volume of production, as well as competitiveness of products in foreign markets will be of importance in maintaining export levels of agricultural and food products.

The coverage of total food imports by exports was compared between the periods before EU accession (2000–2003), post-accession period (2004–2016), and the period of the last five years (2017–2021). In terms of value, Slovenia was a net importer of food and beverages in all three above-mentioned periods. In the period before EU accession, the import coverage was on average 60%, being higher for processed products (73%) than for primary products (29%). This implies that more products with higher added value were exported. After EU accession, the coverage of food and beverage imports at the aggregate food level decreased to an average of 48%. The reason was in a steeper growth of imports than exports, especially of processed food and beverages, as with the opening of borders, the Slovenian food processing industry faced increased competition (Pintar and Kožar, 2016). On the other hand, in the case of unprocessed products, the ratio between the two trade flows increased significantly in favour of exports. In the last five years (2017–2021), both imports and exports of food and beverages have been continuously increasing (with the exception of imports in 2020 due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic), exports slightly more intensively. At the aggregate level, the coverage of food and beverages import is on average 62%, with coverage remaining higher for primary products.

Prior to Slovenia's accession to the EU (2000–2003), an important share of foreign trade in food was conducted with the countries of the former Yugoslavia, but since then, trade has largely shifted to EU member states. In the last five years (2017–2021), imports of food and beverages from the EU countries accounted on average for 88% of total imports, while exports to EU countries accounted for 72% of total exports in terms of value. Neighbouring countries account for slightly more than half of the value of trade. After Slovenia's accession to the EU, the value of trade with Austria, Italy and Hungary increased, and after 2013 also with Croatia, when it joined the EU. Among neighbouring countries, Italy and Croatia are the most important partners for both imports and exports of food and beverages. Food and beverage exports from Slovenia cover the largest share of imports in trading with Croatia; in the period before Slovenia's accession to the EU, import coverage was on average 158%, after which it began to decrease sharply. In recent years (2017–2021), the coverage of imports by exports in trade with Croatia was on average 85%, followed by Italy with 71%, while the coverage is lower in trade with Austria (42%) and Hungary (24%). In general, exports of food and beverages from Slovenia to these countries are growing faster than imports.

Slovenia was a net importer (in terms of value) of most food groups throughout the analysed period. Prior to EU accession, exports exceeded imports for meat and meat preparations, dairy products and eggs, and beverages. After EU accession, trade flows of the aforementioned food groups changed significantly. The ratio began to increase in favour of imports (in the case of beverages, exports also decreased significantly at the same time), and the export of meat and meat preparations shifted towards the export of live animals. Since Slovenia's accession until 2021, exports exceeded imports on average only for live animals and dairy products and eggs. This is somehow expected, as the conditions for livestock breeding are favourable in Slovenia, the level of self-sufficiency in meat and milk is high, and production surpluses are exported to foreign markets. For other food groups, Slovenia was a net importer in the period of the last five years (2017–2021), but exports still largely covered imports also for miscellaneous edible preparations (90%), beverages (86%), and meat and meat preparations (73%). The most unfavourable ratio is for foods that are not grown or produced in sufficient quantities to meet total domestic demands, namely fish and fish preparations (32%), vegetables and fruit (35%), and coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices (35%). On average over the last five years, compared to the period before EU accession, the import coverage has decreased the most for beverages (from 366% to 86%) and dairy products and eggs (from 242% to 124%), while it has increased the most for live animals (from 62% to 185%).

Unlike Slovenia, the European Union (EU-27) is on average, a net exporter of food and beverages. On average over the last five years (2017–2021), the coverage of food and beverages imports by exports was 110%. Among individual member states, the following countries were net exporters: Ireland (166%), Spain (159%), Poland (150%), Denmark (150%), the Netherlands (139%), Hungary (138%), Bulgaria (124%), Lithuania (123%), Belgium (115%), France (114%), Italy (110%), Latvia (107%), and Austria (101%). Slovenia ranks 18^th in terms of import coverage (average for the period 2017–2021: 73%). Romania (70%), Croatia (70%), Slovakia (66%), Portugal (66%), Sweden (59%), Luxembourg (50%), Malta (46%), Cyprus (45%) and Finland (34%) had lower import coverage than Slovenia in the same period.