Statistical Release
Environment - Physical environmental accounts
05.12.2024
Final data Periodicity: annual Next publication date: 05.12.2025

Material flow indicators, 2023

In 2023, domestic material consumption amounted to 162 624 thousand tons, which is by 11.2% more if compared to 2022.

In 2023, domestic extraction amounted to 152 611 thousand tonnes; compared to the previous year it increased by 10.4%. Observed by categories, the largest share in domestic extraction was noted for the categories of metal ores (42 144 thousand tons) and non-metalic minerals (39 763 thousand tons).

In 2023, the total imports amounted to 24 128 thousand tonnes, which is by 4.4% more when related to 2022. Categories with the largest share in imports were fossil energy materials (50.6%) and metal ores (17.6%).

In 2023, the total exports noted the value of 14 115 thousand tonnes, which is by 6.9% less than in 2022. Biomass had the largest share in the total exports (42.7%), followed by metal ores (23.0%).

In 2023, domestic material consumption amounted to 162 624 thousand tons, which is by 11.2% more if compared to 2022.The greatest consumption related to the category of fossil energy materials (43 984 thousand tons) and metal ores (43 151 thousand tons). In 2023, domestic material consumption per capita amounted to 24.6 ton, i.e. it increased by 2.7 ton when compared to the previous year.

Resource productivity is the ratio between Gross domestic product (GDP) and domestic material consumption and in 2023, it amounted to 43.1 RSD per kilogram, which is by 6.7% less than in 2022, meaning that increase of material consumption was greater than GDP increase, when related to the previous year.


1. Material flow indicators

Republic of Serbia                                                                                                                                                                            thous. tonnes
  Year Domestic extraction resources Imports Exports Domestic material consumption Physical trade balance
1 2 3 4 = 1 + 2 - 3 5 = 2 - 3
Total202213825123120151551462167965
2023152611241281411516262410013
Biomass2022323723493636029505-2867
2023377093210602934890-2819
Metal ores (gross ores)2022314084208353832078670
20234214442493242431511007
Non-metalic minerals2022382553373252539103848
20233976332352234407641001
Fossil energy materials/carriers202236215104961374453379122
2023329961221312254398410988
Other products2022-15511358193193
2023-12211386-165-165

2. Resource efficiency indicators

Republic of Serbia
  2022 2023
Domestic Material Consumption per capita (t)21.924.6
Resource productivity (RSD/kg)46.2 r)43.1 p)

p) Preliminary data.

r) Revised/ corrected data.


Methodological explanations

Material flows include material flows between a national economy and the natural environment, and these consist of the extraction of raw materials and other primary materials from and the discharge into the natural environment, as well as material flows between a national economy and the rest of the world (imports and exports).

The classification of materials used in the Material flow account classifies domestic extracted resources into four categories: biomass (from agriculture, forestry and fishing), metal ores, non-metals (stone, clay, etc.) and fossil energy materials (coal, oil, gas). 

Classification of materials used in the Material flow account:

The basic principles and methods for creating accounts of material flows for the level of total economy, as well as the results for the Republic of Serbia were presented in the publication “Material flow indicators of the Republic of Serbia, 2001–2011“ and can be found at SORS website.

Data series of material flow indicators are available at SORS website, in the database with methodological explanation.

Starting from 1999 the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia has not at disposal and may not provide available data relative to AP Kosovo and Metohija and therefore these data are not included in the coverage for the Republic of Serbia (total).