External Trade - March 2015

In March 2015, according to preliminary data of ‘national concept' in current prices, the trade balance ended in a surplus of CZK 19.2 bn, which means a CZK 6.0 bn decrease year−on−year (y−o−y).

Year−on−year, total balance in national concept was unfavourably influenced by a y−o−y decrease in surplus in 'machinery and transport equipment' by CZK 7.4 bn (mainly due to a higher deficit of balance in 'telecommunications and sound-recording equipment' by CZK 3.5 bn and 'power-generating machinery and equipment' by CZK 2.3 bn); and in 'manufactured goods classified chiefly by material' by CZK 0.8 bn. On the other hand, balance improved in 'mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials' showing a lower deficit by CZK 1.9 bn. Surplus in 'miscellaneous manufactured articles' (CZK 4.9 bn) and deficit in 'chemicals and related products' (CZK 13.7 bn) remained almost unchanged, y−o−y.

The trade balance with EU28 Member States ended in a surplus of CZK 61.6 bn, which was by CZK 6.6 bn more, y−o−y. Deficit of trade with non-EU countries increased by CZK 12.3 bn to amount to CZK 40.8 bn.

In March, national concept exports grew by 10.2% (to CZK 302.4 bn) and imports by 13.7% (to CZK 283.1 bn), y−o−y.

In January−March 2015, trade surplus in national concept reached CZK 54.6 bn which represented a y−o−y decrease of CZK 1.0 bn. From the beginning of the year exports and imports went up by 7.4% and 8.1% respectively, y−o−y.

Detailed information on external trade in national concept is available on website: https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/vzonu_ts. Preliminary data are based on the cross-border trade of residents and estimates of internal trade between residents and non-residents. These estimates will be updated next month.

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 the Czech and foreign entities, i.e. a change of ownership between residents and non-residents. On the other hand, cross-border concept of external trade reflects only physical movements of goods across the border regardless of whether the trade between the Czech and foreign entities occurs. These data are internationally comparable and can be used as indicators of development of value of the trade.

In March 2015, according to preliminary data of ‘cross-border concept’ in current prices, exports and imports grew by 10.8% and 12.8% respectively, y−o−y.

Month-on-month, in ‘cross-border concept’ seasonally adjusted exports and imports rose by 0.7% and 0.6% respectively. The development trend shows increasing exports (+0.8%) and imports (+0.6%).

Y-o-y, exports and imports in terms of euro increased by 10.9% and 12.9% respectively in March. In terms of US dollars exports and imports fell by 13.1% and 11.5% respectively.

Total exports of goods in ‘cross-border concept’ (goods leaving the Czech Republic territory) amounted to value of CZK 344.7 bn and total imports in ‘cross-border concept’ (goods entering the Czech Republic territory) reached CZK 295.4 bn.

Total 'machinery and transport equipment' exports and imports grew by 10.9% (CZK +18.5 bn) and 19.2% (CZK +21.2 bn) respectively, y−o−y. Exports and imports went up mainly in 'road vehicles' (CZK +7.2 bn and CZK +3.6 bn respectively), 'electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances' (both by CZK +3.5 bn) and 'telecommunications and sound-recording equipment' (CZK +2.8 bn and CZK +4.4 bn respectively). Imports of 'mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials’ grew by 3.6% (CZK +0.7 bn), y−o−y. Imports of crude petroleum decreased by 28.8% in value and increased by 17.0% in volume. Imports of natural gas were higher by +38.2% in value and by +78.2% in volume.

In January−March 2015, exports and imports in cross-border concept grew by 7.2% and 8.7% respectively.

Detailed information on external trade in ‘cross-border concept’ is available on website: https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/vzoph_ts.

 

Notes:

Exports and imports in ‘national concept’ are derived from adjustments of data on movement of goods across the border (‘cross-border concept’). Goods which are moved in/from the territory of the Czech Republic by foreign entities are excluded and, on the other hand goods traded between the Czech and foreign entities on the territory of the Czech Republic are taken into account. Table 5 on website: https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/vzonu_ts shows this adjustment.

The both concepts of external trade include the value of goods sent for inward or outward processing. Goods sent for processing are excluded from the value of exports and imports in the balance of payments and in the national accounts according to ESA and BPM6.

The data in national concept are used as an input data source for the balance of the payments and the national accounts.

The published data are based on data obtained of 99.0% of companies (for goods dispatched) and 99.0% of companies (for goods arrived) obliged to report to the Intrastat system. Data for companies that failed to report (non-response) have been imputed according to dispatches and arrivals that these companies reported in the previous periods. Data for companies exempted from the reporting duty were estimated on the basis of the data given in the VAT return forms. The VAT data which are not available are extrapolated on the basis of the values in previous periods.

The data for individual months of 2014 and 2015 are preliminary. Data of the reference month are released together with updated data of the previous three months in cross-border concept and with updated data of the last finished quarter and individual months of the reference quarter in national concept.

Detailed methodology information is available on website of the CZSO:
National concept:
https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/2-vzonu_m
Cross-border concept:
https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/whatisexternal_trade

 

Responsible manager of the CZSO: Ing. Jaroslav Sixta, Ph.D. phone (+420) 274 054 253, e-mail: jaroslav.sixta@czso.cz
Contact: Mgr. Karel Král phone (+420) 274 052 161, e-mail: karel.kral@czso.cz
Method of data collection: Intrastat forms and Single administrative documents.
Value Added Tax declaration forms
End of data collection: 20th working day after the end of the reference month
Documents available on the CZSO website: w-241013-15 External Trade of the Czech Republic –detailed breakdown (periodicity: monthly): https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/external-trade
External Trade Database: http://apl.czso.cz/pll/stazo/STAZO.STAZO?jazyk=EN

Next News Release: June 8, 2015

This press release was not edited for language.

Published: 07.05.2015
The data are valid as of the release date of the publication.