In January 2020, the foreign trade balance was in surplus in the amount of EUR 53,4 million (by EUR 98,1 million lower than in January 2019).

The Slovak Republic had the highest positive balance with Germany (EUR 520,7 million), the United Kingdom (EUR 293,6 million), France (EUR 259,3 million), Poland (EUR 173,1 million), Austria (EUR 162,3 million),  Italy (EUR 129,3 million), the Czech Republic (EUR 100,2 million), Spain (EUR 98 million) and Hungary (EUR 91,5 million). The largest deficit was recorded with the Republic of Korea (EUR 365,7 million), the Russian Federation (EUR 343,1 million), China (EUR 332 million), Vietnam (EUR 244,7 million), Malaysia (EUR 40,5 million), Taiwan (EUR 32,6 million) and Japan (EUR 31,3 million).

Goods in the amount of EUR 6 603,7 million were exported from the Slovak Republic. Compared with January 2019, the total export decreased by 2 %.

In terms of goods, an increase was recorded in export of motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for transport of persons by EUR 107,6 million and other lifting, handling, loading or unloading machinery (for example: lifts, escalators, conveyors, teleferics) by EUR 14 million. A most considerable decrease was recorded in export of monitors and projectors, reception apparatus for television by EUR 51,8 million, flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, hot rolled by EUR 47,4 million and  telephone sets, including telephones for cellular networks by EUR 14,2 million.

Within the most significant trade partners, export increased to Germany by 0,2 %, France by 23,7 % and the United Kingdom by 18,7 %. Export decreased to the Czech Republic by 7,4 %, Hungary by 1,5 %, Austria by 5,8 %, Italy by 13,4 %, Spain by 0,6 %, USA by 42,1 %, Romania by 12,2 %, the Netherlands by 10,4 % and the Russian Federation by 10,1 %. Export remained unchanged to Poland year-on-year.

In terms of the main economic groupings, export to the EU countries decreased by 1 % (it represented 80 % of the total export of the SR) and to the OECD countries by 1,9 % (it represented 88,7 % of the total export of the SR).  

Goods in the amount of EUR 6 550,4 million were imported to the Slovak Republic with a year-on-year decrease of 0,5 %.

In terms of goods, a growth was registered in import of electric accumulators, including separators by EUR 85,3 million, parts and accessories of the motor vehicles by EUR 78,5 million, monitors and projectors, television reception apparatus by EUR 22,3 million and  air or vacuum pumps, air or other gas compressors and fans by EUR 21,1 million.

A significant decline was recorded in import of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons by EUR 64,4 million, telephone sets, including telephones for cellular networks by EUR 28,1 million.

In relation to the most significant trade partners, import increased from China by 7,6 %, the Republic of Korea by 1,3 %, Hungary by 6% and France by 22,7 %. Import decreased from Germany by 6,9 %, the Czech Republic by 11,6 %, the Russian Federation by 16,8 %, Poland by 4,7 %, Vietnam by 24,4 %, Austria by 0,7 % and Italy by 13,3 %.

In terms of the main economic groupings, import from the EU countries increased by 2,1 % (it represented 64,6 % of the total import of the SR) and from the OECD countries decreased by 4,3 % (it represented 62 % of the total import of the SR), compared with the corresponding period of 2019.