The surplus of the external trade in services in the 3rd quarter was EUR 3.9 billion
Service exports calculated in EUR increased by 1.4%, imports lessened by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter of 2025, compared to the same period of the previous year. The surplus reached EUR 3.9 billion, EUR 415 million higher than in the 3rd quarter of 2024. The export value improved by 14%, that of import by 7.8%, generating an EUR 812 million higher surplus compared to the previous quarter.
In the 3rd quarter of 2025:
The value of exports amounted to EUR 10.3 billion (HUF 4.1 thousand billion), that of imports to EUR 6.3 billion (HUF 2.5 thousand billion). The surplus of the external trade in services added up to EUR 3.9 billion (HUF 1.6 thousand billion).
Among service groups, travel services contributed with EUR 1843 million, transport services with EUR 904 million, business services with EUR 576 million to the surplus of the 3rd quarter of 2025.
66% of our service exports, 74% of our service imports were transacted with EU member states, generating a surplus of EUR 2.1 billion in this relation.
Germany continues to be our primary trading partner, accounting for 19% of the total turnover. The United States ranked second, followed by Austria in the third place; their share in services trade amounted to 8.5% and 7.3%.
The proportion of business services was 38% of the total service exports (including 19% for other business services), travel services also had a significant share, 29%, as well as transport services with 24%.
Business services dominated in imports as well, with a proportion of 53% (including 26% for other business services), while transport services accounted for 25%, travel for 18% of total import turnover.
In the 3rd quarter of 2025, year-on-year:
The value of service exports in EUR terms increased by 1.4% (by 1.9% in HUF terms), while that of imports decreased by 4.1% (by 3.7% in HUF terms). The surplus exceeded the same period of the previous year’s level by EUR 415 million (HUF 170 billion).
The surplus increase was primarily driven by a growth in the balance of travel services (EUR 407 million). as well as that of manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others, by EUR 55 million, this being partially counterbalanced by a EUR -49 million deterioration in the balance of business services.
In the turnover with the EU member states, our surplus grew by EUR 166 million, primarily due to the balance improvements of EUR 131 million, 80 million and 52 million with Luxembourg, Austria and Greece. It is also important to highlight the EUR 101 million decrease in the balance with Ireland.
In the case of non-EU countries, the surplus increased by EUR 249 million. The improvement was realised primarily with the United States (EUR 102 million), and Switzerland (EUR 58 million).
January–September 2025:
The value of export amounted to EUR 27 billion (HUF 11 thousand billion), that of import to EUR 18 billion (HUF 7.2 thousand billion).
Value of the external trade in services, January – September 2025
| Denomination | Export | Import | Balance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value at current prices | Previous year=100% | Value at current prices | Previous year=100% | Value at current prices | In the same period of the previous year | |
| Billion HUF | 10 874 | 101.9 | 7 155 | 97.8 | 3 719 | 3 356 |
| Million EUR | 27 095 | 99.4 | 17 819 | 95.4 | 9 276 | 8 568 |
January–September 2025, compared to the same period of the previous year:
The value of export decreased by 0.6% (EUR 157 million) that of import by 4.6% (EUR 865 million).