In March 2019, compared with the corresponding period last year, the total export of goods increased by 5,1 % to EUR 7 316,3 million and the total import rose by 8,5 % to EUR 7 004,9 million. The foreign trade balance was in surplus in the amount of EUR 311,4 million (by EUR 192,6 million lower than in March last year).

 In first quarter of 2019, the foreign trade balance was in surplus in the amount of EUR 1 032,5 million (by EUR 279,4 million higher than in the corresponding period last year).

The Slovak Republic had the highest active balance with Germany (EUR 1 481,6 million),  the United Kingdom (EUR 907 million), France (EUR 732,7 million), USA (EUR 703,7 million),  Austria (EUR 552 million), Poland (EUR 468,8 million), Italy (EUR 386,4 million), Spain (EUR 275,3 million), the Czech Republic (EUR 269 million), and Romania (EUR 203,8 million).

The largest passive balance was recorded with the Republic of Korea (EUR 1 024,5 million),Vietnam (EUR 981,8 million), China (EUR 757,7 million), the Russian Federation (EUR 653,4 million), Malaysia (EUR 111,1 million), Japan (EUR 110,1 million), Taiwan (EUR 97,3 million) and Ukraine (EUR 83,6 million).

Goods in the amount of EUR 20 771,7 million were exported from the Slovak Republic. Compared with corresponding period of 2018, the total export grew by 8,5 %.

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 1 572,1 million, air or vacuum pumps, air or other gas compressors and fans by EUR 58,1 million, electrical lighting or signalling equipment by EUR 57,7 million,  petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals other than crude by EUR 54,6 million and electrical transformers, static converters and inductors by EUR 52,5 million.

The highest decrease was recorded in export of telephone sets including telephones for cellular networks by EUR 315,1 million, monitors and projectors, television apparatus by EUR 75,6 million and automatic data-processing machine and units thereof by EUR 73,1 million.

Relating the most significant trade partners, export increased to Germany by 7,2 %, the Czech Republic by 3,3 %, Poland by 8,4 %, France by 14,2 %, United Kingdom by 27,5 %, Austria by 8,1 %, Hungary by 5,6 %, USA by 97,6 %, Spain by 0,5 %, Romania by 11,3 %, the Russian Federation by 11,8 % and China by 39,5 %. Export to Italy decreased by 29,9 % and the Netherlands by 0,2 %.

In terms of the main economic groupings, the export to the EU countries rose by 5,1 % (it represented 84 % of the total export of the SR) and to the OECD countries by 7,8 % (it represented 88,9 % of the total export of the SR).  

Goods amounted to the value of EUR 19 739,2 million were imported to the Slovak Republic with a year-on-year growth of 7,3 %.

In terms of goods, the increase was registered in import of parts and accessories of the motor vehicles by EUR 779,1 million, wires and cables by EUR 172,3 million, compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines by EUR 126,6 million and seats, also convertible into beds by EUR 63,5 million.

The significant drop was recorded in import of telephone sets including telephones for cellular networks by EUR 285,2 million, products of liquid crystals by EUR 101,8 million, parts and accessories suitable for transmission apparatus for radio-broadcasting or television by EUR 69,4 million and automatic data-processing machine and units thereof by EUR 52,3 million.

In relation to the most significant trade partners, the import increased from Germany by 5,1 %, the Czech Republic by 4,4 %, Poland by 5,3 %, the Republic of Korea by 2,7 %, the Russian Federation by 5,5 %, Hungary by 20,6 %, Italy by 0,2 %, Austria by 8,3 % and the United Kingdom by 13,2 %. Import from China decreased by 3,4 %, Vietnam by 24,9 % and France by 0,8 %.

In terms of the main economic groupings, the import from the EU countries grew by 12 % (it represented 68,1 % of the total import) and from the OECD countries by 6,2 % (it represented 65,3 % of the total import of the SR), compared with the corresponding period of 2018.