External trade and balance of payments
External trade statistics are made up of two main areas. Goods trade statistics collect data on the movement of physically existing goods among countries, while external services trade statistics take account of international trade in typically intangible services (e.g. travel, transport). Although services account for the larger part of production, some four-fifths of external trade is in goods. The difference is due to the differing degrees of storability and transportability. The balance of payments is a statistical statement that systematises the economic transactions of a particular country with the rest of the world in a particular period.
Key figures
Balance of external trade in goods
Indicator description
Difference between the value of goods exports and of goods imports in a particular month or in the months of the year processed to date in total, expressed in million euros. If the value of exports exceeds that of imports, then an external trade surplus, in the contrary case an external trade deficit is generated.
Source of data:
Summary Tables (STADAT)
Last data for period: December 2020
Change in volume of goods exports
Indicator description
Change in the quantity of goods exports compared to the same period of the previous year. Volume data eliminate the effects of price and exchange rate changes. The volume data here are not calendar adjusted.
Source of data:
Summary Tables (STADAT)
Last data for period: December 2020
Change in volume of goods imports
Indicator description
Change in the quantity of goods imports compared to the same period of the previous year. Volume data eliminate the effects of price and exchange rate changes. The volume data here are not calendar adjusted.
Source of data:
Summary Tables (STADAT)
Last data for period: December 2020
Balance of external trade in services, in billion euros
Indicator description
Difference between the value of services exports and of services imports in a particular quarter or in the quarters of the year processed to date in total. If the value of exports exceeds that of imports, then an external services trade surplus, in the contrary case an external services trade deficit is generated.
Source of data:
Summary Tables (STADAT)
Last data for period: Q4 2020
Featured

Surplus on external trade in goods amounts to EUR 398 million in December, volume of exports lessens by 2.6% and that of imports by 2.7% compared to November, External trade in goods, December 2020 (second estimate)
In December 2020, the volume of exports increased by 14% and that of imports by 12% compared to the same period of the previous year. The surplus was EUR 398 million, the balance improving by EUR 299 million compared to December 2019. Compared to November, the seasonally and working-day-adjusted volume of exports lessened by 2.6% and that of imports by 2.7%. In 2020, the surplus on the balance of external trade in goods amounted to EUR 5.8 billion, EUR 1.5 billion more than one year earlier.

Browse our data on the coronavirus pandemic
It is particularly important to present, in addition to our regular and detailed publications, the current situation of the areas most affected by the pandemic with flash estimates using a limited information base. Our WEEKLY MONITOR presents the economic and social impacts of the pandemic through daily, weekly and monthly updated preliminary data as a collection of interactive diagrams.

Surplus on external trade in services was EUR 810 million in the 4th quarter, External trade in services, 4th quarter 2020
In the fourth quarter of 2020 service exports and imports calculated in EUR decreased by 32% and 25% respectively compared to the same period of the previous year. The surplus was EUR 810 million, being EUR 855 million less than in the 4th quarter of 2019. The negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic somewhat intensified on the export-, while toned down on the import side compared to the previous quarter. Exports decreased by 11% and imports grew by 5.9%.

Hungary's external trade in 2019
The corona virus epidemic reached global levels in March 2020. The government's and enterprises' measures implemented to mitigate risks influence substantially Hungary's external trade size and structure. The majority of the countries mostly hit by the epidemic belong to Hungary's main partners in external trade in goods. Germany had an outstanding share of 27% of the total trade in goods, the proportion of France, China, Italy and Spain was 2–5% each in 2019.
Related themes
Related links
First releases |
Latest release | Next release |
---|---|---|
External trade in goods, December 2020 (first estimate) | 08/02/2021 | 11/03/2021 |
External trade in goods, December 2020 (second estimate) | 04/03/2021 | 29/03/2021 |
External trade in services, 4th quarter 2020 | 02/03/2021 | 31/05/2021 |
Publications |
Released |
---|---|
Hungary, 1st–3rd quarters 2020 | 01/02/2021 |
Hungary, 2020 Q2 | 26/01/2021 |
Regional Statistical Yearbook of Hungary, 2019 | 18/12/2020 |
Hungary, 2019 | 10/12/2020 |
Hungary, 1st quarters 2020 | 19/10/2020 |
Statistical Yearbook of Hungary, 2019 | 25/09/2020 |
Statistical pocketbook of Hungary, 2019 | 01/07/2020 |
Hungary, 1st–3rd quarters 2019 | 20/12/2019 |
Regional Statistical Yearbook of Hungary, 2018 | 20/12/2019 |
Hungary, 1st semester 2019 | 14/10/2019 |
Statistical Yearbook of Hungary, 2018 | 30/09/2019 |
Hungary, 2018 | 27/08/2019 |
Hungary, 1st quarter 2019 | 14/08/2019 |
Statistical pocketbook of Hungary, 2018 | 06/08/2019 |
International trade in services, 4th quarter 2018 | 22/03/2019 |