In January 2019, the foreign trade balance was in surplus in the amount of EUR 309,6 million (by EUR 274,5 million higher than in January 2018).

The Slovak Republic had the highest active balance with Germany (EUR 525 million), the United Kingdom (EUR 250,2 million), France (EUR 226,6 million), USA (EUR 212 million),  Austria (EUR 192,3 million), Poland (EUR 185,4 million), Italy (EUR 180 million), the Czech Republic (EUR 104,3 million), Spain (EUR 94,4 million) and Romania (EUR 79,6 million).

The largest passive balance was recorded with the Republic of Korea (EUR 377,4 million),Vietnam (EUR 315 million), China (EUR 269,3 million), the Russian Federation (EUR 245,6 million), Malaysia (EUR 42,8 million), Taiwan (EUR 35,6 million), Ukraine (EUR 34,8 million) and Japan (EUR 30,7 million).

Goods in the amount of EUR 6 747,8 million were exported from the Slovak Republic. Compared with January 2018, the total export grew by 13,3 %.

In terms of goods, the increase was recorded in export of motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for transport of persons by EUR 833,3 million, air or vacuum pumps, air or other gas compressors and fans by EUR 33,5 million, unrefined copper; copper anodes for electrolytic refining by EUR 33,2 million and electrical lighting or signalling equipment by EUR 17,5 million

The highest decrease was recorded in export of telephone sets including telephones for cellular networks by EUR 138,1 million and automatic data-processing machine and units thereof by EUR 17,8 million.

Relating the most significant trade partners, export increased to Germany by 22,5 %, Poland by 6,2 %, France by 9,5 %, Austria by 18 %, United Kingdom by 3,9 %, Hungary by 1,7 %, USA by 204,4 %, Spain by 1,2 %, Romania by 15,6 %, the Netherlands by 7,4 % and the Russian Federation by 32,9 %. Export decreased to Italy by 21,6 %. Export to the Czech Republic remained, year-on-year, unchanged.

In terms of the main economic groupings, the export to the EU countries rose by 7,7 % (it represented 84,4 % of the total export of the SR) and to the OECD countries by 11,9 % (it represented 89 % of the total export of the SR).  

Goods amounted to the value of EUR 6 438,2 million were imported to the Slovak Republic with a year-on-year growth of 8,7 %.

In terms of goods, the increase was registered in import of parts and accessories of the motor vehicles by EUR 350 million, wires and cables by EUR 73,8 million, compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines by EUR 46,1 million and seats, also convertible into beds by EUR 28 million.

The significant drop was recorded in import of telephone sets including telephones for cellular networks by EUR 147,6 million, products of liquid crystals by EUR 32,8 million, parts and accessories suitable for transmission apparatus for radio-broadcasting or television by EUR 30,6 million and petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude by EUR 25,1 million.

In relation to the most significant trade partners, the import increased from Germany by 15,3 %, the Czech Republic by 8,7 %, the Russian Federation by 1,6 %, Poland by 1,5 %, Hungary by 27,9 %, Austria by 16,4 % and Italy by 0,7 %. Import decreased from China by 10,3 %, the Republic of Korea by 6,2 % and Vietnam by 27,5 %. Import from France did not change year-on-year.

In terms of the main economic groupings, the import from the EU countries grew by 17,9 % (it represented 66,7 % of the total import) and from the OECD countries by 8 % (it represented 63,3 % of the total import of the SR), compared with the corresponding period of 2017.