In May 2019, compared with the corresponding period last year, the total export of goods increased by 0,4 % to EUR 6 901,5 million and the total import rose by 4,2 % to EUR 6 748,1 million. The foreign trade balance was in deficit in the amount of EUR 153,4 million (by EUR 241,2 million lower than in May last year).

 In January-May 2019, the foreign trade balance was in surplus in the amount of EUR 1 107,3 million (by EUR 273,8 million lower than in the corresponding period last year).

The Slovak Republic recorded the highest active balance with Germany (EUR 2 372,3 million),  the United Kingdom (EUR 1 209,6 million), France (EUR 1 195,4 million), USA (EUR 1 026,6 million),  Austria (EUR 857,5 million), Poland (EUR 720,7 million), Italy (EUR 580,7 million), Spain (EUR 458,9 million), Romania (EUR 348,8 million) and the Czech Republic (EUR 335,6 million).

The largest passive balance was recorded with the Republic of Korea (EUR 1 740,8 million),Vietnam (EUR 1 613,6 million), China (EUR 1 203,7 million), the Russian Federation (EUR 1 051,4 million), Japan (EUR 182,9 million), Malaysia (EUR 177,4 million), Taiwan (EUR 165,1 million) and Ukraine (EUR 142 million).

Goods in the amount of EUR 34 237,9 million were exported from the Slovak Republic. Compared with corresponding period of 2018, the total export grew by 5,6 %.

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 2 132,8 million, electrical transformers, static converters and inductors by EUR 80,2 million, air or vacuum pumps, air or other gas compressors and fans by EUR 75,7 million, copper unrefined and copper anodes for electrolytic refining by EUR 66,7 million.

The highest decrease was recorded in export of telephone sets including telephones for cellular networks by EUR 435,8 million, monitors and projectors, television apparatus by EUR 143,3 million and semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steelby EUR 68,8 million.

Relating the most significant trade partners, export increased to Germany by 6,4 %, the Czech Republic by 1 %, Poland by 7,2 %, France by 11,9 %, Hungary by 6,6 %, Austria by 4,3 %, United Kingdom by 8,6 %, USA by 66 %, Romania by 9,2 %, China by 44,3 % and the Russian Federation by 8,8 %. Export to Italy decreased by 27,3 %, Spain by 2,8 % and the Netherlands by 6,5 %.

In terms of the main economic groupings, the export to the EU countries rose by 2,9 % (it represented 84,2 % of the total export of the SR) and to the OECD countries by 4,2 % (it represented 88,5 % of the total export of the SR).  

In January-May 2019, goods in the amount of EUR 33 130,6 million were imported to the Slovak Republic with a year-on-year growth of 6,8 %.

In terms of goods, the increase was registered in import of parts and accessories of the motor vehicles by EUR 1 064,7 million, wires and cables by EUR 269,9 million, compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines by EUR 156,3 million and petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude by EUR 89,5 million.  

The significant drop was recorded in import of telephone sets including telephones for cellular networks by EUR 308,8 million, products of liquid crystals by EUR 122,8 million.

In relation to the most significant trade partners, the import increased from Germany by 2,9 %, the Czech Republic by 5,7 %, China by 2,6 %, Poland by 5,2 %, the Republic of Korea by 1,1 %, Hungary by 11,4 %, the Russian Federation by 9,6 %, France by 6,4 % and United Kingdom by 13,5 %.  Import from Vietnam decreased by 19,4 % and Italy by 2,2 %.