Bosnia and herzegovina Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in bosnia and herzegovina, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Mining and Materials for Industrial Processing
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Overview

There is a longstanding tradition of metal processing in BiH due to the country’s abundance of natural resources such as iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, and copper. The metal sector is a significant export driver with a robust production growth rate of over ten percent in the past few years. The main export products of the metal sector include aluminum, steel, and automotive industry components. BiH’s metal sector exports are primarily oriented toward the EU and Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) markets. 

Leading Sub-sectors

  • Petroleum coke, petroleum bitumen, and other residues of petroleum
  • Stone coal
  • Sodium hydroxide

Opportunities

BiH has significant potential in silver, gold, lithium, nickel, and other minerals, which has garnered attention from several international investors. Australian company Adriatic Metals Plc. acquired a 30-year exploitation permit from the Federation Government to develop two silver-zinc-lead deposits in Vares. Canada-based DPM Metals acquired Adriatic Metals in September 2025, thus taking over the Vares mining operations. The company hopes to find more deposits of iron ore and polymetals (lead, zinc, barite, silver, and gold). The Dutch ND Group has invested in Arcore AG - a Switzerland-based junior mining company with a lithium/boron mining and production project in Lopare, in the RS. These and other investments in the mining sector may offer opportunities for U.S. technology and equipment.

The existing structure of the metal sector, characterized by small companies, provides an opportunity for larger companies to integrate existing primary producers and further develop their business operations. The price of labor in the metal processing industry in BiH is competitive when compared with global market labor costs. Besides materials for industrial processing, small private companies also buy modern computerized equipment and strive to stay updated with current technologies. Many factories are engaged in semi-processing of components for foreign companies based in the EU and neighboring countries.

Top metal processing companies in BiH that present the best sales prospects for U.S. suppliers include Arcelor Mittal Zenica, TMD AI Gradačac, MLM Alutec Bugojno, Bekto-Precisa, FEAL, Aluminij Mostar, Tvornica Glinice Birač Zvornik, and Jelšingrad Livnica Čelika Banja Luka. Procurement notices can be found on the companies’ websites and the best way to access these opportunities is via some form of local presence, either direct or through agents and distributors.

Resources

  • BiH Foreign Trade Chamber
  • Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Industry of the Federation of BiH
  • Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mining of the Republika Srpska
  • Chamber of Economy of the Federation of BiH
  • Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republika Srpska

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

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