In March 2016, according to preliminary data of ‘national concept' in current prices, the trade balance ended in a surplus of CZK 21.7 bn, which was an increase of CZK 4.0 bn, year−on−year (y−o−y).

Year−on−year, total balance in 'national concept' was favourably influenced mainly by growth of the trade surplus in 'machinery and transport equipment' (by CZK 6.4 bn) and a decrease of deficit in 'mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials' (by CZK 2.8 bn). Total balance was unfavourably affected by a y−o−y decrease in surplus in 'miscellaneous manufactured articles' (by CZK 2.1 bn) and 'manufactured goods classified chiefly by material' (by CZK 1.4 bn). Deficit deepened in 'chemicals and related products' (by CZK 1.8 bn) and 'food and live animals' (by CZK 0.6 bn). Balance deteriorated in 'crude materials' (by CZK 0.7 bn) as a surplus turned into a deficit.

The trade balance with EU28 Member States ended in a surplus of CZK 57.5 bn, which was a y−o−y decrease by CZK 1.2 bn. Deficit of trade with non-EU countries shrank by CZK 5.4 bn to amount to CZK 33.9 bn.

Month-on-month, seasonally adjusted exports and imports in ‘national concept’ fell by 2.3% and 0.5 % respectively. The development trend shows decreasing exports (−0.3%) and increasing imports (+0.5%).

Year−on−year, 'national concept' exports and imports decreased by 2.5% (to CZK 296.3 bn) and imports by 4.1% (to CZK 274.7 bn) respectively.

In January−March 2016, trade surplus in national concept reached CZK 68.6 bn which represented a y−o−y increase of CZK 14.7 bn. From the beginning of the year exports went up by 1.5% and imports dropped by 0.2%, 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.

Y−o−y, in terms of euro, exports increased by 1.0% while imports decreased by 2.7%. In terms of US dollars exports were higher by 3.5% and imports went down by 0.3% respectively.

Total exports of goods in ‘cross-border concept’ (goods leaving the Czech Republic territory) amounted to value of CZK 348.9 bn and total imports in ‘cross-border concept’ (goods entering the Czech Republic territory) reached CZK 295.0 bn.

Total 'machinery and transport equipment' exports grew by 3.8% (CZK +7.3 bn), y−o−y. Exports grew mainly in 'road vehicles' (CZK +4.9 bn), 'electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances' (CZK +1.9 bn) and 'general industrial machinery and equipment' (CZK +1.8 bn). Total 'machinery and transport equipment' imports decreased by 5.5% (CZK −7.7 bn), y−o−y. Imports were lower mainly in 'office machines, automatic data-processing machines' (CZK −3.5 bn) and 'telecommunications and sound-recording equipment' (CZK −2.4 bn). Imports of 'road vehicles' were higher by CZK 1.4 bn. Imports of 'mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials’ dropped by 34.4% (CZK −6.5 bn), y−o−y. Imports of crude petroleum decreased by 47.0% in value and by 16.7% in volume. Imports of natural gas were lower by 26.7% in value and by 0.1% in volume.

In January−March 2016, exports and imports in cross-border concept grew by 4.7% and 0.4% respectively.

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

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. 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.

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 98.8% of companies (for goods dispatched) and 98.8% 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.

Data of 2015 and 2016 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. All data are processed from basic reporting units and subsequently rounded.

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-241013-16 External Trade of the Czech Republic –detailed breakdown (periodicity: monthly): https://www.czso.cz/current-product/41320
External Trade Database: http://apl.czso.cz/pll/stazo/STAZO.STAZO?jazyk=EN
Next News Release: June 7, 2016

 This press release was not edited for language.