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Export balance deteriorates

Export balance deteriorates

Budapest Times02-07-2025
The surplus of the external trade in goods was EUR 739 million in May, the balance deteriorated by EUR 281 million, year-on-year; compared to the same period of the previous year, the export volume grew by 3.2%, that of import by 5.4%.
Compared to the same period of the previous year, the export volume grew by 3.2%, that of import by 5.4%, while the seasonally and working day adjusted export volume lagged behind the April 2025 level by 0.6%, that of import surpassed it by 2.0%.
In May 2025 the value of export amounted to EUR 12.2 billion (HUF 4,927 billion), that of import was EUR 11.5 billion (HUF 4,629 billion).
In May 2025 compared to a year earlier the value of export increased by 2.0% and that of import by 4.8% in EUR terms.
According to calendar-adjusted data, the volume of export increased by 3.2%, that of import by 5.4%.
The balance of the external trade in goods lessened by EUR 281 million.
The HUF price level of the external trade in goods increased by 3.1% in export and by 3.7% in import, compared to the same month of the previous year. The terms of trade deteriorated by 0.5%. The HUF exchange rate depreciated by 4.3% against the EUR and improved by 0.1% against the US dollar.
The export volume of machinery and transport equipment increased by 6.4%, its import volume by 5.0%. The aggregate commodity group of machinery and transport equipment hastened the volume increase in total turnover by 3.5 percentage points on the export side, and by 2.3 percentage points on the import one.
The export volume of manufactured goods decreased by 4.8%, their import volume improved by 3.5%. The aggregate commodity group of manufactured goods slowed the volume increase in total export by 1.5 percentage points and contributed to the growth by 1.3 percentage points in import.
The export volume of fuels and electric energy increased by 89%, their import volume by 28%, year-on-year . The growth in the turnover of fuels and electric energy contributed to the volume increase in total turnover by 2.4 percentage points in export and by 2.2 percentage points in imports.
The export volume of food, beverages and tobacco lessened by 9.2%, their import volume by 2.6%. The volume change realised by the aggregate commodity group slowed down the total turnover volume increase by 0.8 percentage points on the export side and by 0.2 percentage points on the import one.
The volume of export to the EU-27 member states increased by 2.0%, the import from there by 3.7%. Compared to May 2024 the balance of the external trade in goods decreased by EUR 99 million, generating a surplus of EUR 1.0 billion. This group of countries accounted for 75% of exports and 71% of imports.
In the extra-EU-27 trade the volume of export increased by 6.2%, that of import grew by 10%. The balance of the external trade in goods with these countries worsened by EUR 182 million, showing a deficit of EUR 279 million.
In January–May 2025 compared to one year earlier the volume of export increased by 1.0%, that of import grew by 2.7%.
The balance of the external trade in goods decreased by EUR 586 million, the surplus was EUR 6.1 billion.
The HUF price level of the external trade in goods increased by 4.8% on the export side, and by 4.4% on the import one, compared to the same period of the previous year. The terms of trade improved by 0.4%. The HUF depreciated against the EUR by 4.2% and by 4.5% against the US dollar.
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