The study was commissioned by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) and it was conducted in April-June, covering the 2010-15 period.
In 2015, the beer sector directly and indirectly created HRK 4.2 billion in gross value added, which accounts for 1.8% of GDP, Marina Tkalec of EIZ said presenting the findings. To every HRK 1 of GVA created directly, the sector indirectly created another HRK 4 in the rest of the economy.
In 2015, beer companies generated HRK 2.4 billion of GVA and employed 16,000 people indirectly through distributors, which means that 50% of the beer industry's effects refer to added value generated by bars, restaurants and retailers through beer sales.
In 2015, beer companies paid HRK 639 million in excise taxes into the state budget, while the whole chain of beer industry's added value paid HRK 2.8 billion in taxes, which was 1.9% of all budget revenues, said Tkalec.
The beer sector directly and indirectly created 23,522 jobs, or 2% of all jobs in Croatia in 2015. To every job in the sector another 12 or 13 were created indirectly in the rest of the economy, she added.
The beer sector grew and increased the number of employees even during the recession, which points to its strong economic potential, said Tkalec.
The positive trends in the beer sector are continuing and in the first eight months of 2017 the beer industry saw a 3% annual increase in production, Bozica Markovic of the HGK said at the presentation.
In 2016, the beer industry's surplus in foreign trade was EUR 17 million, while exports totalled EUR 48.7 million, which was 2.8% of agricultural and food exports and an increase of 61% when compared with 2012.