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External trade surplus grows to EUR 1.8 billion

External trade surplus grows to EUR 1.8 billion

Budapest Times05-05-2025
The volume of export surpassed the same period of the previous year's level by 5.0%, that of import by 6.4% in March 2025. The surplus was EUR 1.8 billion, the balance grew by EUR 173 million, year-on-year. The adjusted volume of export diminished by 0.3% compared to February 2025, that of import increased by 2.1%.
In March 2025 the value of export amounted to EUR 13.4 billion (HUF 5,352 billion), that of import was EUR 11.6 billion (HUF 4,645 billion).
In March 2025 compared to a year earlier the value of export increased by 8.5% and that of import improved by 8.1% in EUR terms.
According to calendar-adjusted data, the volume of export decreased by 0.4%, that of import increased by 2.0%.
The balance of the external trade in goods improved by EUR 173 million.
The HUF price level of the external trade in goods increased by 4.5% in export and by 2.7% in import, compared to the same month of the previous year. The terms of trade improved by 1.8%. The HUF exchange rate depreciated by 1.1% against the EUR and by 1.7% against the US dollar.
The export volume of machinery and transport equipment increased by 5.8%, its import volume by 5.9%. The aggregate commodity group of machinery and transport equipment strenghtened the volume increase in total turnover by 3.3 percentage points on the export side, and boosted the total turnover volume growth on the import side by 2.7 percentage points.
The export volume of manufactured goods did not change, their import volume lessened by 2.6%. The aggregate commodity group of manufactured goods did not contribute significantly to the volume increase in total export, in import held the total turnover growth back by 1.0 percentage point.
The export volume of fuels and electric energy increased by 71%, their import volume was 57% higher than one year earlier. The growth in the turnover of fuels and electric energy improved the volume increase in total turnover by 1.6 percentage points in export and by 4.2 percentage points on the import side.
The export volume of food, beverages and tobacco improved by 0.3%, their import volume increased by 8.1%. The volume change realised by the aggregate commodity group did not have an impact in merit on the total turnover volume growth on the export side, and contributed to it on the import one by 0.5 percentage points.
The volume of export to the EU-27 member states increased by 3.2%, the import from there by 3.9%. The balance of the external trade in goods decreased by EUR 191 million, generating a surplus of EUR 1.6 billion. This group of countries accounted for 74% of exports and 72% of imports.
In the extra-EU-27 trade the volume of export increased by 18%, that of import improved by 10%. The balance of the external trade in goods with these countries improved by EUR 364 million, showing a surplus of EUR 152 million.
In January–March 2025 the value of exports amounted to EUR 37.6 billion (HUF 15,233 billion), that of imports to EUR 33.7 billion (HUF 13,648 billion).
In January–March 2025 compared to one year earlier the volume of export increased by 1.4%, that of import grew by 2.8%.
The balance of the external trade in goods increased by EUR 30 million, the surplus was EUR 3.9 billion.
The HUF price level of the external trade in goods increased by 5.7% on the export side, and by 4.6% on the import one, compared to the same period of the previous year. The terms of trade improved by 1.0%. The HUF depreciated against the EUR by 4.2% and by 7.6% against the US dollar.
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