The indicator shows the coverage of food imports by exports in Slovenia, providing information on the foreign trade balance. 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, indicating that the country is a net exporter. Conversely, a share of less than 100 means that the value of imports exceeds the value of exports, indicating that the country is a net importer.

The indicator presents the overall coverage of food and beverage imports by exports in the period 2000–2024, the coverage of food and beverage imports from neighbouring countries, the coverage of imports of certain food groups, and a comparison of the overall food and beverage import coverage among the EU-27 Member States.

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 that is lower than 100% means that the trade balance with foreign countries is negative, and that 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 consequently, 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 imported goods. The ratio between the two trade flows is also linked to the level of food self-sufficiency. Countries that are self-sufficient and produce surpluses are usually net exporters of food, while countries that are less than 100% self-sufficient must ensure food security also through imports from other countries (net importers). Achieving food security through domestic food production and minimizing dependence on imports are important elements of national security, especially in times of uncertainty (political and other instabilities) and major price fluctuations on global markets (Revizijsko poročilo …, 2021). Global megatrends indicate that an increasingly variable climate conditions could in the future negatively affect the quantity and quality of food produced in Slovenia (Sadauskis et al., 2019). This could also lead to greater dependence on global food markets and affect the export-import ratio. Maintaining the level of exports of agricultural and food products will therefore depend on the resilience of the agri-food sector to climate conditions and various shocks, the volume of production, and the competitiveness of products in foreign markets.

The coverage of total food imports by exports was compared between the periods before EU accession (2000–2003), post-accession period (2004–2019), and the last five-year period (2020–2024). In terms of value, Slovenia was a net importer of food and beverages in all three analysed periods. Before joining the EU, the import coverage was on average 60%, with higher coverage for processed products (73%) than for primary products (29%). This indicates that more products with greater added value were exported. After EU accession, the overall coverage of food and beverage imports decreased, averaging 50%. The reason for this decline was a more rapid growth of imports compared to exports, especially of processed food and beverages. With the opening of borders, the Slovenian food processing industry faced increased competition (Pintar and Kožar, 2016). On the other hand, for unprocessed products, the ratio between the two trade flows increased significantly in favour of exports. In the most recent five-year period, both imports and exports of food and beverages have continued to increase (except for imports in 2020, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic), with exports growing more intensively. On an aggregate level, the average import coverage of food and beverages stands at 65%, thus exceeding the level from the pre-accession period. Coverage of imports by exports remains higher for primary products (74%) than for processed products (62%).

Before Slovenia's accession to the EU (2000–2003), a large share of its foreign trade in food was conducted with the countries of the former Yugoslavia. However, after joining the EU, trade has shifted significantly toward Member States. In the past five-year period (2020–2024), imports of food and beverages from the EU accounted for an average of 87% of total imports, while exports to EU represented 74% of total export value. Approximately half of the total value of food and beverage trade takes place with neighbouring countries. Following Slovenia's accession to the EU, the value of trade increased most notably with Austria, Italy and Hungary, and after 2013 also with Croatia, when it joined the EU. Among the neighbouring countries, Italy and Croatia are the most important trading partners for both imports and exports of food and beverages. Coverage of food and beverage imports by exports is the highest in trade with Croatia; before Slovenia's accession to the EU, import coverage was on average 158%, but it has since declined significantly. In the most recent five-year period, import coverage in trade with Croatia averaged 84%, followed by Italy (71%), while the coverage was lower in trade with Austria (53%) and Hungary (31%). Overall, exports of food and beverages from Slovenia to these countries are growing faster than imports.

Throughout the period 2000– 2024, Slovenia was a net importer (in terms of value) for most analysed food groups. Prior to EU accession, exports exceeded imports for meat and meat preparations, dairy products and eggs, as well as beverages. After EU accession, trade in these food groups underwent a major shift. The ratio began to increase in favour of import (with beverage exports also declining significantly), while export of meat and meat preparations shifted towards the export of live animals. Since Slovenia's accession to the EU and up to 2024, exports have exceeded imports in terms of value only in trade with live animals and dairy products and eggs; and in some individual years also for beverages and miscellaneous edible preparations. This is somehow expected, as the conditions for livestock farming in Slovenia are favourable, the self-sufficiency rate for meat and milk is high, and surpluses are exported to foreign markets. For other food groups, Slovenia remains a net importer. In the most recent five-year period (2020–2024), imports were still largely covered by exports in beverages (83%), and meat and meat preparations (76%). The most unfavourable ratios were recorded for food products that are not grown or produced in sufficient quantities to meet total domestic demands, namely vegetables and fruit (33%), fish and fish preparations (36%), and coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices (40%). Compared to the pre-accession period, the import coverage decreased the most for beverages (from 366% to 83%) and for dairy products and eggs (from 242% to 132%), while it increased the most for live animals (from 62% to 205%).

Unlike Slovenia, the European Union (EU-27) is on average a net exporter of food and beverages. Over the past five years (2020–2024), the average coverage of food and beverages imports by exports was 110%. Among individual Member States, the following countries were net exporters: Ireland (164%), Spain (156%), Poland (152%), Denmark (143%), the Netherlands (139%), Hungary (135%), Lithuania (128%), Belgium (118%), Bulgaria (117%), Italy (113%), France (112%), Latvia (109%), and Greece (104%). Slovenia ranks 18^th, placing it in the second third of EU-27 Member States, with an average coverage rate of 77%. Slovakia (69%), Romania (69%), Croatia (67%), Portugal (67%), Sweden (61%), Luxembourg (52%), Cyprus (42%), Malta (41%), and Finland (34%) had lower import coverage rates than Slovenia.