The total balance of international trade¹⁾ in goods²⁾ was favourably influenced mainly by a y−o−y increase of the trade surplus in 'motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers' by CZK 15.1 bn, mainly due to a growth of their exports by CZK 36.0 bn. The trade balance improved in 'computer, electronic and optical products' (deficit down by CZK 3.0 bn), 'machinery and equipment' (surplus up by CZK 2.2 bn) and 'textiles' (a change by CZK 2.0 bn from a deficit to a surplus).

The total balance was negatively affected mainly by a larger trade deficit in 'basic metals' by CZK 6.6 bn, 'crude petroleum and natural gas' by CZK 6.0 bn (due to rising world market prices and bigger imported quantity), 'chemicals and chemical products' by CZK 4.7 bn and 'basic pharmaceutical products' by CZK 4.0 bn.

Y−o−y, exports increased by 41.6% to CZK 334.3 bn and imports grew by 38.6% to CZK 327.9 bn. The results were influenced by a low comparative basis of May 2020 when the Covid-19 restrictive measures were still effective. May 2021 had two more working days than May 2020.

In the period from January to May 2021, the trade balance surplus reached CZK 92.3 bn, which represented an increase by CZK 79.9 bn, y−o−y. From the beginning of the year, exports and imports grew by 26.3% and 20.5%, respectively, y−o−y.

Month-on-month, the seasonally adjusted exports and imports fell by 8.1% and 4.1%, respectively. The trend shows decreasing exports (−1.0%) and imports (−0.8%).

In May 2021, the trade balance with the EU27³⁾ Member States ended in a surplus of CZK 57.7 bn, which was CZK 11.4 bn higher, y−o−y. The highest y−o−y increases of surplus were recorded in trade with France (by CZK 4.4 bn) and Germany (by CZK 3.3 bn). On the other hand, the trade surplus decreased with the Netherlands (by CZK 1.6 bn) and the trade deficit with Poland increased by  the same amount.

In May 2021, exports to Eurozone countries constituted 64.8% of all Czech exports; imports from Eurozone countries to the Czech Republic constituted 48.4% of all Czech imports. Y−o−y, exports to the Eurozone went up by 39.7% (CZK +61.6 bn) to CZK 216.5 bn; imports from the Eurozone increased by 45.1% (CZK +49.4 bn) and reached CZK 158.7 bn. In May 2021, the Czech crown strengthened against the Euro on average by 6.7%, y−o−y.

The trade deficit with non−EU27 countries increased by CZK 4.1 bn to reach an amount of CZK 49.3 bn. The trade balance deteriorated with the Russian Federation by CZK 4.8 bn as a surplus turned into a deficit. On the other hand, the trade surplus grew with the United Kingdom by CZK 3.1 bn and deficit decreased in trade with China by CZK 2.1 bn.

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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 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 2020 and 2021 is preliminary; data up to and including year 2019 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: Stanislav Konvička, Head of Trade Balance Unit, 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 set: https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/vzonu_cr
Next News Release will be published on: August 6, 2021