According to preliminary data in current prices, in September 2019 the external trade balance in goods ended in a surplus of CZK 25.1 bn, which was by CZK 14.1 bn higher year−on−year (y−o−y).

Total balance of external trade¹⁾ in the national concept²⁾ was mainly influenced by a higher surplus in 'motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers' by CZK 7.3 bn mainly due to an increase of their exports by CZK 14.0 bn, year−on−year.

Balance of 'other transport equipment' improved by CZK 2.8 bn as a deficit turned into a surplus and deficit in 'crude petroleum and natural gas' decreased by CZK 1.8 bn. Surplus in 'machines and equipment' increased by CZK 1.3 bn, y−o−y.

Larger deficits in 'computer, electronic and optical products' and 'basic pharmaceutical products' by CZK 1.3 bn and by CZK 1.0 bn, respectively, had the opposite effect on the total balance.

In September 2019 the trade balance with the EU28 Member States ended in a surplus of CZK 71.3 bn, and thus it was by CZK 11.7 bn higher, y−o−y. The trade deficit with non−EU countries decreased by CZK 3.4 bn to reach the amount of CZK 44.5 bn.

Compared to August 2019, the seasonally adjusted exports and imports rose by 1.7% and 1.9%, respectively. The trend shows increasing exports (+0.3%) and stagnating imports.

Compared to the same month of 2018, exports increased by 8.0% to reach CZK 324.7 bn, and imports grew by 3.4% to attain CZK 299.7 bn. September 2019 had two more working days than September 2018.

In the period from January to September 2019 the trade balance surplus in the national concept amounted to CZK 141.2 bn which represented an increase by CZK 54.6 bn, y−o−y. From the beginning of the year exports and imports went up by 4.0% and 2.0%, respectively, y−o−y.

Detailed information on external trade in the national concept can be found at:
https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/external_trade_in_goods_according_to_the_change_of_ownership_-national_concept-.

Information on the cross-border movement of goods

According to preliminary data in current prices of the cross-border concept³⁾, exports and imports increased by 9.1% and 4.8%, respectively, in September 2019. Total exports and imports of goods amounted to values of CZK 404.8 bn and CZK 349.6 bn, respectively.

According to the Eurostat statistics, in August 2019 the Czech Republic shares in the total exports and imports of the European Union were 3.3% and 2.9%, respectively.

Detailed information on external trade in the cross-border concept can be found at:
https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/external_trade_in_goods_according_to_the_movement_-cross_border_concept-.

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Notes:
¹⁾ The external trade balance is the difference between exports from the Czech Republic and imports to the Czech Republic
²⁾ The national concept of external trade reflects export and import performance of the Czech economy, i.e. the external trade balance of the Czech Republic as well. It measures real trade in goods carried out between Czech entities and foreign ones, i.e. the change of ownership between residents and non-residents.
³⁾ The cross-border concept of external trade reflects only physical movements of goods across the border regardless of whether the trade between Czech entities and foreign ones occurs. These data are internationally comparable and can be used as indicators of development in the value of trade.
Data for companies, which are subject to the reporting duty and which failed to report data (non-response), have been imputed according to dispatches and receptions these companies reported in the previous period. Data for companies exempted from the reporting duty were estimated on the basis of the data given in the VAT return forms. The data, which were not available from the VAT return forms, are estimated on the basis of the values for previous periods.
Data for 2017 and 2018 are final; data for respective months of 2019 are preliminary.
From the reference period of January 2019 external trade data for the whole previous and the current year are updated monthly. Final data for the previous year are published in September of the current year.

Responsible head at the CZSO: Miluše Kavěnová, Director of External Trade Statistics Department, phone number (+420) 274 054 176  
e-mail: miluse.kavenova@czso.cz
Contact person: Stanislav Konvička, External Trade Statistics Department, phone number (+420) 274 054 254 
e-mail: stanislav.konvicka@czso.cz
Method of data collection: Intrastat forms and single administrative documents and value added tax return forms
End of data collection: 20th working day after the end of the reference month
Following data sets: 241013-19 External Trade of the Czech Republic –detailed breakdown (monthly): https://www.czso.cz/current-product/41320
w-241014-19 External Trade of the Czech Republic –by CZ-CPA in the national concept (quarterly)
https://www.czso.cz/current-product/41321
External Trade Database is available at: http://apl.czso.cz/pll/stazo/STAZO.STAZO?jazyk=EN

Next News Release will be published on: 9 December 2019