In a remarkable economic milestone, the Czech Republic has achieved its highest foreign trade surplus since its establishment in 1993, reaching an impressive 223.2 billion crowns (approximately $9.8 billion). This outstanding performance marks a significant improvement of 100.7 billion crowns compared to the previous year, according to the Czech Statistical Office (CSU).
The country’s export sector demonstrated robust growth, with a 4.9 percent increase reaching 4.66 trillion crowns, while imports grew at a more modest pace of 2.7 percent, totaling 4.43 trillion crowns. This disparity between export and import growth rates has contributed significantly to the record-breaking surplus.
December 2024 concluded the year on a positive note, with a trade surplus of 6.8 billion crowns, exceeding the previous year’s figure by 2.2 billion crowns. The improvement was primarily driven by reduced deficits in oil and natural gas trade, coupled with increased surpluses in machinery and electricity sectors.
Particularly noteworthy was the strong performance in computer and electronic equipment exports, which saw a substantial increase of 7.4 billion crowns in December alone. However, the same sector also experienced increased imports, reflecting the dynamic nature of the Czech Republic’s technology trade.
Despite these achievements, some sectors faced challenges. The metalworking industry saw a significant shift from surplus to deficit, and trade deficits deepened in computers, electronic and optical devices, and basic metals sectors, highlighting areas for potential future improvement.