Export and import price indices - March 2013

Growth of external trade prices supported by weakening koruna

In March 2013, export prices increased by 0.5%, import prices by 0.9%, month-on-month. Export prices increased by 2.6%, import prices by 1.1%, year-on-year. The terms of trade figures reached 99.6%, m-o-m, and 101.5%, y-o-y.

Month-on-month comparison:

Exports: export prices grew 0.5% in March (no change in February). The change of the total m-o-m export price index was driven mainly by a 0.8% price growth in ‘machinery and transport equipment’. Among important sections prices grew in ‘chemicals and related products’ (+1.1%), ‘manufactured goods classified chiefly by material’ (+0.6%) and ‘miscellaneous manufactured articles’ (+0.5%). Only price drop was registered in ‘mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials’ (-1.8%).

Imports: import prices increased by 0.9% (-0.2% in February). The change of the total m-o-m import price index was driven mainly by a 1.1% price growth in ‘machinery and transport equipment’. Among important sections prices were rising in ‘crude materials, inedible, except fuels’ (+2.8%), miscellaneous manufactured articles’ (+1.5%) and ‘food and live animals’ (+1.1%). Prices fell only in ‘animal and vegetable oils’ (-0.6%).

The terms of trade figures slightly fell to 99.6% (100.2% in February) switching to negative values after six months. Significant negative values were recorded in ‘mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials’ (97.9%), ‘miscellaneous manufactured articles’ (99.0%) and ‘machinery and transport equipment’ (99.7%). Significant positive values of the terms of trade figures reached only ‘chemicals and related products’ prices (100.3%).

Year-on-year comparison:

Exports: export prices increased by 2.6% (+0.8% in February), this trend was supported by weakening of Czech koruna against Euro and US dollar. The change of the total y-o-y export price index was driven mainly by a 3.6% price growth in ‘machinery and transport equipment’. Among important sections, prices of ‘food and live animals’, ‘miscellaneous manufactured articles’ and ‘chemicals and related products’ rose 5.1%, 3.7% and 2.6%, respectively. Only price drop was recorded in ‘mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials’ (-4.1%).

Imports: import prices increased by 1.1% (-0.5% in February). Change of the total y-o-y import price index came mainly from a 2.7% price growth in ‘machinery and transport equipment’. Among important sections, prices of ‘food and live animals’, ‘miscellaneous manufactured articles’ and ‘manufactured goods classified chiefly by material’ rose 6.8%, 3.3% and 1.7%, respectively. On the contrary, significant price drop was registered in ‘mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials’ (-4.8%) and ‘crude materials, inedible, except fuels’ (-3.9%).

The terms of trade figures increased to 101.5% (101.3% in February) and they have stayed in positive values for third month. Among important sections, highest positive values of the terms of trade figures were registered in ‘crude materials, inedible, except fuels’ (105.1%), ‘chemicals and related products’ (101.2%) and ‘machinery and transport equipment‘ (100.9%). Negative values of the terms of trade figures, among important sections, reached ‘food and live animals’ (98.4%).

Czech Statistical Office prepared a revision of external trade price indices.
From January 2013, export and import price indices are calculated using new weighting scheme based upon External trade statistics data from year 2010 and implementing new price base year 2010 average = 100. New indices are chained to existent time series (2005 average = 100) thus enabling continuation of current time series. Hitherto published indices will not be revised.
Detailed information is published on the internet pages of Czech Statistical Office.

Analysis - External trade price indices development in Q1 2013


Notes:
Responsible manager of the CZSO: Jiří Mrázek, Department Director
Contact: Vladimír Klimeš, phone (+420) 274 054 102, e-mail: vladimir.klimes@czso.cz
Method of data collection: Selective survey of the CZSO
End of data collection: 15th calendar day after the reference month
Related publications: 720144-13 Import and Export Price Indices in the Czech Republic
/csu/czso/export-and-import-price-indices-in-the-czech-republic-2013-7scbqjgrxm
Specific methodical notes: The data released are final.
Next News Release: 17 June 2013

Not edited for language.

Published: 16.05.2013
The data are valid as of the release date of the publication.