# Croatia (HR) **Capital:** Zagreb **Currency:** Euro (EUR) (EUR) **Population:** 3,866,233 — Older stored figure; source year not documented. **Area:** 56,594 km² > Croatia is an EU, Schengen and Eurozone member on the Adriatic, serving as a gateway between Central and South-Eastern Europe. The seaports of Rijeka and Ploče and the A1 motorway link the Adriatic with the hinterland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. As part of the EU customs union, intra-EU trade has no customs formalities; third-country imports follow the Union Customs Code and 25 percent import VAT. Croatia (HR) is an EU, Schengen and eurozone member on the Adriatic, acting as a seaport gateway and transit country between Central and South-Eastern Europe. Within the EU customs union, the Carinska uprava clears third-country imports electronically under the Union Customs Code (UCC), including ICS2 and NCTS; intra-EU trade moves without customs formalities. Import VAT (PDV) is 25 percent (reduced rates 13 and 5 percent). The main gateways are the ports of Rijeka (container gateway with the new deep-sea terminal), Ploče (access for Bosnia and Herzegovina), Split and Zadar, plus Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG). Key axes are the A1 Zagreb–Split–Ploče, the A3 along Corridor X and the Mediterranean rail corridor Rijeka–Zagreb–Hungary; Vukovar serves as the Danube port. Trade centres on machinery, vehicles, petroleum products and food; the main partners are Italy, Germany, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria. **Top Import Partners:** IT, DE, SI, AT, HU **Top Export Partners:** IT, DE, SI, BA, AT **Top Import Goods:** Machinery, Vehicles, Crude oil, Chemicals, Food **Top Export Goods:** Machinery, Chemicals, Food, Vehicles, Textiles **Key Airports:** - [Zagreb Franjo Tuđman International Airport (ZAG)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/zagreb-franjo-tuđman-international-airport-zag) - [Brač Airport (BWK)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/brac-airport-bwk) - [Dubrovnik Ruđer Bošković Airport (DBV)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/dubrovnik-ruđer-boskovic-airport-dbv) - [Osijek Airport (OSI)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/osijek-airport-osi) - [Pula Airport (PUY)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/pula-airport-puy) - [Rijeka Airport (RJK)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/rijeka-airport-rjk) - [Split Airport (SPU)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/split-airport-spu) - [Zadar Airport (ZAD)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/zadar-airport-zad) - [Bjelovar Brezovac Airfield](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/bjelovar-brezovac-airport-4418) - [Buševec Velika Glider Field](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/busevec-velika-glider-field-airport-4912) **Key Seaports:** - [Rijeka Luka (HR RJK)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/rijeka-luka-port-hr-rjk) - [Split (HR SPU)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/split-port-hr-spu) - [Ploce (HR PLE)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/ploce-port-hr-ple) - [Bakar (HR BAK)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/bakar-port-hr-bak) - [Dubrovnik (HR DBV)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/dubrovnik-port-hr-dbv) - [Omisalj (HR OMI)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/omisalj-port-hr-omi) - [Rovinj (HR ROV)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/rovinj-port-hr-rov) - [Sibenik (HR SIB)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/sibenik-port-hr-sib) - [Zadar (HR ZAD)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/zadar-port-hr-zad) - [Brsica](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/brsica-port-612) ## Customs & Import **Import VAT:** Import VAT (PDV) 25 percent standard rate **Customs complexity:** medium **Customs system:** EU customs union with the Union Customs Code (UCC). Import clearance is electronic via EU systems (ICS2, national import/AIS system). Intra-EU trade without customs formalities. **Customs authority:** [Carinska uprava (Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance)](https://carina.gov.hr) ## Logistics & Risk **Logistics role:** EU Adriatic transit country / seaport gateway **Economic area:** EU **Logistics risk:** low **Dangerous goods relevance:** medium **Pharma/cold chain:** medium ## FAQ ### Which import VAT applies in Croatia? The standard VAT rate (PDV) is 25 percent, with reduced rates of 13 and 5 percent. Import VAT is charged on imports from third countries. ### Is a customs declaration required for deliveries from the EU? No. Croatia is part of the EU customs union; intra-EU deliveries are duty-free and are reported only via Intrastat. ### Which ports are most important for freight? Rijeka is the largest port and the container gateway; Ploče mainly serves Bosnia and Herzegovina; other ports include Split, Zadar and Šibenik. ### Is Croatia part of Schengen and the eurozone? Yes, since 1. January 2023. There are no border controls with EU neighbours, and the national currency is the euro. ### Which customs authority is responsible? The Carinska uprava (Customs Administration) in the Ministry of Finance, online at carina.gov.hr. ### Which export controls apply? The EU Dual-Use Regulation 2021/821 and EU sanctions regimes (CFSP) apply, including against Russia and Belarus. ### What are the main transport connections? The A1 motorway connects Zagreb with Split and Ploče; the Mediterranean rail corridor runs from Rijeka via Zagreb to Hungary; the main air cargo airport is Zagreb (ZAG). ## Sources & Last Verified - [https://carina.gov.hr](https://carina.gov.hr) - [https://carina.gov.hr/en](https://carina.gov.hr/en) - [https://www.porezna-uprava.gov.hr](https://www.porezna-uprava.gov.hr) - [https://podaci.dzs.hr/2025/en/97254](https://podaci.dzs.hr/2025/en/97254) - [https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu) - [https://eur-lex.europa.eu](https://eur-lex.europa.eu) - [https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/croatia/corporate/other-taxes](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/croatia/corporate/other-taxes) - [https://www.adriaports.com/en/shipping-en/port-of-rijeka-traffic-down-in-2025-but-containers-hold-up/](https://www.adriaports.com/en/shipping-en/port-of-rijeka-traffic-down-in-2025-but-containers-hold-up/) *Last verified: 2026-07-21* --- *Freight Academy — Country Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/hr](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/hr)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/hr](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/hr)*