Businesses in Vukovar-Srijem County generated a consolidated net profit of 655.5 million kuna (€87m) in 2020, or 7.2 percent up from 2019, while gross investments in new long-term assets dropped by 43.7 percent to 193.9 million kuna (€26m), state agency Hina said on Monday, citing figures from the state's financial agency Fina.

A total of 2,273 businesses have their registered headquarters in Vukovar-Srijem County, and they employ 20,063 people, which is an increase of 310, or 1.6 percent, year-on-year. Entrepreneurs in the county generated a total revenue of 22.7 billion kuna in 2020, up 17.4 percent year-on-year, whereas total expenditure increased by 17.8 percent to 22 billion kuna.

Profits totaled 1 billion kuna, which compared to the previous year was an increase of 10.2 percent, while losses jumped by 16.3 percent to 359.3 million kuna. The result is a net profit of 655.5 million kuna, or 7.2 percent up from 2019. Exports rose by 39.2 percent to 9.2 billion kuna while imports fell by 9.6 percent to 968.1 million kuna, resulting in a trade surplus of 8.3 billion kuna.

The average net monthly wage amounted to 4,749 kuna, or 6.5 percent up from 2019, and 20.5 percent lower than the national average of 5,971 kuna.

Of the two largest cities in the county, Vinkovci registered 688 enterprises with 8,267 employees and a loss of 170.8 million kuna, whereas Vukovar generated a total revenue of 13 billion kuna and a profit of 516.3 million kuna, or net profit of 404.2 million kuna, Fina reported.

The Prvo Plinarsko Drustvo (PPD) gas company from Vukovar generated the highest profit in that period (226.6 million kuna), the highest total revenue (9.8 billion kuna) and the highest revenue from foreign sales (6.9 billion kuna).

The Boso retail chain from Vinkovci had the largest number of employees (965) while the biggest loser in 2020 was the PIK Vinkovci Plus agriculture company,  generating a loss of 70 million kuna.

(€1 = 7.51 kuna)