Croatia power output falls in March as electricity imports climb

Fresh short-term data from Croatia’s Bureau of Statistics point to a less favorable balance for the country’s power sector in March 2026: generation fell while imports increased. For investors and market participants, the shift matters because it can signal tighter supply conditions and greater reliance on cross-border electricity flows.

Electricity generation down year-on-year

Net electricity production in March 2026 totaled 1,255 GWh, representing a 13.5% decrease compared with March of the previous year, when output reached 1,451 GWh.

Hydropower remained the largest contributor at 563 GWh, or 44.9% of total production. Thermal power plants generated 212 GWh (16.9%), wind farms produced 289 GWh (23%), and solar power plants delivered 115 GWh (9.2%).

Imports rise as exports weaken

At the same time, Croatia imported 1,090 GWh of electricity in March 2026—14.7% higher than in the same month last year, when imports were 950 GWh.

Electricity exports reached 701 GWh, down 10.5% versus March 2025, when exports totaled 783 GWh. The combination of lower domestic generation and weaker export performance suggests that Croatia required more external supply to meet demand during the month.

Natural gas up; oil and refined products mixed

In hydrocarbon production, Croatia produced 62 million cubic meters of natural gas in March 2026, up 5.1% year-on-year. Natural gas imports amounted to 262 million cubic meters, increasing by 37.9% compared with the same period last year.

Crude oil production stood at 38,000 tons, which was 2.6% lower than a year earlier. Petroleum product output totaled 138,000 tons in March 2026—substantially below the 276,000 tons recorded in the same month of the prior year.

Taken together, the figures show a month where Croatia relied more on imported energy inputs even as parts of its domestic fuel and refining output softened—an environment that can affect costs and operational planning across both power generation and downstream energy activities.