In September, compared to the corresponding period last year, total exports of goods increased by 4,9 % to EUR 7 358,1 million and total imports decreased by 3,4 % to EUR 6 650,2 million. The balance of foreign trade was in surplus in the amount of EUR 707,9 million (by EUR 573,7 million higher than in September last year).

In January to September 2020, the foreign trade balance was in surplus in the amount of EUR 1 526,9 million (by EUR 908,9 million higher than in the same period last year).

The Slovak Republic recorded the highest surplus with Germany (EUR 2 788,7 million), France (EUR 1 804,1 million), Austria (EUR 1 488,2 million), the United Kingdom (EUR 1 461,1 million), Poland (EUR 1 273,1 million), the USA (EUR 1 190,1 million), Hungary (EUR 974,4 million), Italy (EUR 632,5 million), the Czech Republic (EUR 567,7 million), Romania (EUR 566,5 million) and Spain (EUR 482,5 million). The largest deficit was recorded with Vietnam (EUR 2 683,1 million), the Republic of Korea (EUR 2 192,6), China (EUR 2 012,6 million), the Russian Federation (EUR 1 699,8 million), Malaysia (EUR 362 million), Taiwan (EUR 230 million) and Japan (EUR 157,3  million).

Goods in the amount of EUR 53 421,7 million were exported from the Slovak Republic. Compared to the same period of 2019, total exports decreased by 10,1 %.

In terms of goods, the highest decrease was recorded in export of motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for transport of persons by EUR 1 053 million, parts and accessories of motor vehicles by EUR 429,8 million, monitors and projectors, reception apparatus for television by EUR 408,2  million, flat rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, hot rolled by EUR 248,7 million EUR and electrical lightning or signalling equipment by EUR 224,2 million. The highest increase was recorded in export of lifting and handling equipment and machinery such as lifts, escalators, teleferics and conveyors by EUR 56,4 million and of wheat and meslin by EUR 50,6 million.

As regards the most important trading partners, exports to Germany decreased by 10,3 %, the Czech Republic by 13,5 %, Poland by 4,4 %, France by 5 %, Hungary by 9,4 %, Austria by 9,6 %, Italy by 18,3 %, the United Kingdom by 22,9 %, the USA by 4,9 %, Romania by 10,4 %, Spain by 23,9 % and the Netherlands by 7,2 %. Export to China rose by 5,1 %.

In terms of the main economic groupings, exports to EU countries decreased by 10,4 % (representing  79 % of total exports of the SR) and similarly to the OECD countries by 10,4 % (representing 87,7 % of total exports of the SR).

Goods in the amount of EUR 51 894,7 million were imported to the Slovak Republic, with a year-on-year decrease of 11,7 %.

In terms of goods, imports of parts and accessories of motor vehicles decreased the most by EUR 1 001,2 million, motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons by EUR 447,1 million, wires and cables by EUR 425,5 million, petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons by EUR 404,3 million and seats, whether or not convertible into beds by EUR 342,4 million. Imports of electric accumulators including their separators increased more significantly by EUR 450,6 million, monitors, projectors and television apparatus by EUR 143,1 million and medicaments for retail sale by EUR 125,1 million.

In relation to the most important trading partners, imports from Germany decreased by 6,9 %, the Czech Republic by 15,5 %, China by 5,7 %, Poland by 12,1 %, Vietnam by 9,4 %, the Russian Federation by 25,3 %, Hungary by 20 %, the Republic of Korea by 22,7 %, France by 5,4 %, Italy by 18,9 % and Austria by 18,4 %.

In terms of main economic groupings, compared to the same period of 2019, imports from EU countries decreased by 9,9 % (representing 66,9 % of total imports) and from OECD countries by 13,8 % (representing 65,3 % of total imports of the SR ).