Mixed trends in trade as exports slip and imports gain
The volume of export decreased by 2.3%, while that of import lessened by 0.1% in April 2025, compared to the same period of the previous year. The surplus was EUR 1.4 billion, the balance lessened by EUR 354 million, year-on-year. The adjusted volume of export improved by 3.4% compared to March 2025, that of import increased by 1.1%.
In April 2025 the value of export amounted to EUR 12.3 billion (HUF 5,021 billion), that of import was EUR 11.0 billion (HUF 4,460 billion).
In April 2025 compared to a year earlier the value of export decreased by 1.5% and that of import improved by the same rate in EUR terms.
According to calendar-adjusted data, the volume of export increased by 0.4%, that of import by 2.1%.
The balance of the external trade in goods decreased by EUR 354 million.
The HUF price level of the external trade in goods increased by 4.4% in export and by 5.2% in import, compared to the same month of the previous year. The terms of trade worsened by 0.8%. The HUF exchange rate depreciated by 3.6% against the EUR and strengthened by 0.9% against the US dollar.
The export volume of machinery and transport equipment increased by 0.5%, its import volume by 0.9%. The aggregate commodity group counterbalanced the volume decrease in total turnover by 0.3 percentage points on the export side, and by 0.4 percentage points on the import one.
The export volume of manufactured goods decreased by 7.5%, their import volume lessened by 7.4%. The aggregate commodity group deepened the total turnover's volume decrease in export by 2.3 percentage points and by 2.9 percentage points in import.
The export volume of fuels and electric energy increased by 39%, their import volume was 43% higher than one year earlier. The growth in the turnover of fuels and electric energy counterbalanced the volume decrease in total turnover by 1.1 percentage points in export and by 2.6 percentage points in import.
The export volume of food, beverages and tobacco lessened by 13%, their import volume decreased by 2.0%. The volume change realised by the aggregate commodity group hastened the export volume decrease by 1.0 percentage point, and moved the turnover in a negative direction on the import one by 0.1 percentage points.
The volume of export to the EU-27 member states decreased by 3.5%, the import from there by 6.3%. The balance of the external trade in goods improved by EUR 29 million, generating a surplus of EUR 1.4 billion. This group of countries accounted for 74% of exports and 71% of imports.
In the extra-EU-27 trade the volume of export increased by 2.8%, that of import improved by 16%. The balance of the external trade in goods with these countries worsened by EUR 383 million, showing a deficit of EUR 41 million.
In January–April 2025 the value of exports amounted to EUR 50.0 billion (HUF 20,257 billion), that of imports to EUR 44.6 billion (HUF 18,090 billion).
In January–April 2025 compared to one year earlier the volume of export increased by 0.5%, that of import grew by 1.9%.
The balance of the external trade in goods decreased by EUR 267 million, the surplus was EUR 5.4 billion.
The HUF price level of the external trade in goods increased by 5.4% on the export side, and by 4.8% on the import one, compared to the same period of the previous year. The terms of trade improved by 0.6%. The HUF depreciated against the EUR by 4.2% and by 5.6% against the US dollar.
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