Czech Republic’s foreign trade ended in April with a surplus of 33.1 billion crowns, an annual increase of 24.1 billion. The automobile trade primarily influenced this positive outcome, while trading with refined petroleum products had a negative impact. These preliminary figures were published by the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ) on its website. According to the office, exports increased by almost one-fifth year-on-year and imports by more than a tenth.
“In the fourth month of this year, there was a year-on-year export increase for almost all commodity groups. Foreign trade with motor vehicles dominated again on the export and import sides. Conversely, the highest decline occurred in the import of oil and natural gas, where we recorded a year-on-year decrease of 4.4 billion crowns,” said Jana Mazánková, head of the ČSÚ trade balance department.
In April, exports rose 19.7 per cent year-on-year to 416.2 billion crowns and imports by 13.1 per cent to 383.1 billion crowns. However, this April had three more working days than last year. In a month-on-month comparison and after seasonal adjustment, exports and imports fell by 1.1 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively.
The overall results of foreign trade were favourably affected by 15.7 billion crowns’ higher surplus in trade with motor vehicles. The trade balance with electrical equipment also improved, resulting in a surplus, and the trade deficit with oil and natural gas fell by 4.5 billion crowns.
Trade with refined petroleum products, which ČSÚ says negatively affected the outcome of the Czech Republic’s foreign trade, showed a deficit increase of 4.4 billion crowns. The trade deficit with computers, electronic and optical devices rose by 3.5 billion and with basic metals by 2.2 billion.