On 14 March 2025, around 500 citizens marched through Zenica, protesting against the high inflation rates, excessive prices, healthcare conditions, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and the issue of unregulated heating in the city area. The protesters also demanded accountability for the tragic loss of lives in Jablanica due to the floods and illegal quarry collapse.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1) Summary On March 14, 2025, a peaceful protest involving approximately 500 people occurred in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Protesters demonstrated against high inflation, rising prices, deteriorating healthcare services, and administrative inefficiencies, while demanding accountability for flood damage in Jablanica. Currently assessed as a low-risk peaceful protest with no immediate supply-chain disruptions.

2) Supply-chain impact

• Zenica is a major industrial city in Bosnia with concentrated steel and metal processing companies, potentially affecting Southeast European metal supply chains if protests escalate
• Persistent high inflation and rising prices raise concerns about increased operating costs and reduced productivity for local manufacturers
• References to Jablanica flooding and illegal quarry collapses suggest instability in regional mineral extraction and construction material supplies
• Deteriorating healthcare services and administrative inefficiencies increase overall uncertainty in the local business environment

3) Watch points

• Track additional protests or strikes in Zenica and nearby industrial areas, and monitor potential for scale expansion
• Monitor Bosnian government announcements on inflation response measures and remedial actions for the Jablanica situation