According to preliminary data in current prices, the trade balance of goods in January 2024 ended in a surplus of CZK 3.7 bn, which was by CZK 4.2 bn lower, year−on−year (y−o−y).

In January 2024, the total balance of international trade¹⁾ in goods²⁾ was adversely affected mainly by trade in 'other transport equipment', which deteriorated by CZK 3.9 bn y−o−y (as a surplus turned into a deficit). The surplus in 'electricity' trade fell by CZK 2.9 bn as a result of falling prices; and trade in 'rubber and plastics products' ended with a deficit of CZK 0.2 bn compared with a surplus of CZK 1.9 bn in the previous year.

The positive effect on the total balance was mainly due to a higher trade surplus in 'motor vehicles' by CZK 2.8 bn and in 'electrical equipment' by CZK 2.0 bn. The trade deficit in 'crude petroleum and natural gas' narrowed by CZK 1.8 bn y−o−y.

In January 2024, the positive trade balance with EU Member States fell by CZK 8.6 bn, y−o−y. The trade deficit with non-EU countries decreased by CZK 3.8 bn.

Y-o-y exports fell by 6.5% to CZK 350.4 bn and y-o-y imports decreased by 5.5% to CZK 346.8 bn. January 2024 had the same number of working days as January 2023.

“In the first month of this year, trade in electrical equipment experienced the biggest year-on-year decline, both on the export and import side. On the other hand, the highest year-on-year increase on both sides of the trade was recorded in international trade in motor vehicles, where the final balance exceeded CZK 49 bn,” says Jana Mazánková, Head of the Trade Balance Unit.

Month-on-month, the seasonally adjusted exports fell by CZK 2.9, while imports rose by 0.9%.

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Methodological note:

From 2020 onwards, data for International trade in goods (change of ownership) are subject to recalculation using an updated method, based on a higher level of detail. See Update of the compilation method – International trade in goods (change of ownership). 

In accordance with the methodology of Eurostat, selected data for exports and imports of military equipment and weapons for the current period are for safety reasons included in other goods codes and another territorial structure so that the macroeconomic aggregate of international trade in goods is not influenced.

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Data for companies, which are subject to the reporting duty and which failed to report data (non-response), has been imputed according to exports and imports 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 respective months of 2023 and 2024 is preliminary; data up to and including year 2022 is final. When data for the reference month is published, six previous months are updated. All months with preliminary data are updated when data for January, March and July is published. Final data is published always in September of the following year.
 

Responsible head at the CZSO: Miluše Kavěnová, Director of International Trade Statistics Department, phone number (+420) 274 054 176, e-mail: miluse.kavenova@czso.cz
Contact person: Jana Mazánková, Head of Trade Balance Unit, phone number (+420) 274 054 144, e-mail: jana.mazankova@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: https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/vzonu_cr
Next News Release will be published on: April 8, 2024 

This press release was not edited for language.