According to preliminary data, in April 2017 the external trade balance in goods ended in a surplus of CZK 10.6 bn, which was by CZK 13.8 bn lower, year-on-year (y-o-y).

The total trade balance in the national concept¹⁾ is being affected by high positive balance of trade in ‘motor vehicles (including their parts and accessories)’ in the long term and yet, the balance fell in April 2017, y-o-y, by CZK 6.4 bn because of the lower exports. Similarly the ‘fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment’ influenced the total balance of trade. The surplus of it decreased by CZK 1.7 bn, y-o-y.

The negative balance in ‘chemicals and chemical products’ was improved by CZK 2.8 bn. On the other hand the imports in ‘crude petroleum and natural gas’ grew and thus the deficit of it deepened by CZK 5.5 bn.

In April 2017 the trade balance with the EU28 Member States ended in a surplus of CZK 53.1 bn, and thus it was by CZK 5.8 bn lower, y-o-y. A deficit of trade with the non-EU countries increased by CZK 8.1 bn to reach the amount of CZK 41.0 bn.

Compared to March 2017 the seasonally adjusted exports and imports in the national concept went down by 1.3% and 1.5%, month−on−month, respectively. The development trend shows increasing exports and imports (both +0.2%).

Compared to the same month of 2016, exports fell by 2.9% (to CZK 277.1 bn) while imports increased by 2.2% (to CZK 266.6 bn).

In the period from January to April 2017 the trade balance surplus in the national concept reached CZK 72.8 bn which represented a decrease by CZK 13.3 bn, y−o−y. From the beginning of the year exports and imports went up by 5.4% and 7.1%, y−o−y, respectively.

Detailed information on external trade in the national concept:

https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/external_trade_in_goods_according_to_the_change_of_ownership_-national_concept-_

Information on cross-border movement of goods

According to preliminary data of the cross-border concept²⁾ in April 2017 export fell by 3.3% while imports grew by 3.1%, y-o-y, in current prices. Total exports and imports of goods amounted to a value of CZK 329.6 bn and CZK 297.0 bn, respectively.

According to the Eurostat statistics, in March 2017 the Czech Republic shares in the total exports and imports of the European Union were 3.0% and 2.7%, respectively.

Detailed information on external trade in the cross-border:

https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/external_trade_in_goods_according_to_the_movement_-cross_border_concept-_

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Notes:

¹⁾ 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 and foreign entities, i.e. a change of ownership between residents and non-residents.
²⁾ The cross-border concept of external trade reflects only physical movements of goods across the border regardless of whether the trade between Czech and foreign entities occurs. These data are internationally comparable and can be used as indicators of development in the value of trade.

Data for companies, that 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 respective months of 2016 and 2017 are preliminary.

Responsible head at the CZSO: Jaroslav Sixta
phone (+420) 274 054 253 
e-mail: jaroslav.sixta@czso.cz
Contact person: Karel Král
phone (+420) 274 052 161
e-mail: karel.kral@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 set: w-241013-17 External Trade of the Czech Republic –detailed breakdown (monthly): https://www.czso.cz/current-product/41320
External Trade Database is available on: http://apl.czso.cz/pll/stazo/STAZO.STAZO?jazyk=EN
Next News Release will be published on: 7 July 2017