External trade and balance of payments

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For Hungary, 2025 once again proved economically two?sided: while output in the productive sectors—industry and agriculture—continued to weaken, services strengthened across almost all areas. Household consumption gained further momentum, supported in large part by the rise in real wages. Based on the available data, employment levels appear to have stabilised at a high level despite the protracted global difficulties.

The deficit was EUR 481 million, the balance decreased by EUR 1,140 million, year-on-year. The volume of export decreased by 0.1%, that of import improved by 13% compared to the same period of the previous year. The seasonally and working-day adjusted volume of export decreased by 2.8%, that of import grew by 1.3% compared to July 2026.

The yearbook provides an overview of Hungary's demographic, social and economic trends, environmental characteristics and their changes over time, with the help of tens of thousands of data in some 500 tables, charts and maps. Compared to previous years, it is a novelty that the results of time use data collection showing the time use of the population were included in the yearbook, furthermore, that the number of registered organisations and earnings data are also available according to the new NACE Rev. 2.1 structure, alongside the NACE Rev. 2 classification, as well as that the International data chapter is published with more extensive content, various indicators.

Service exports calculated in EUR increased by 11%, imports by 13% in the 2nd quarter of 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year. The surplus reached EUR 3.4 billion, EUR 210 million higher than in the 2nd quarter of 2025. The value of exports increased by 18%, and that of imports by 11%, while the surplus was EUR 931 million higher compared to the previous quarter.

In 2025, the volume of Hungary’s goods exports decreased by 0.6%, while that of imports rose by 2.8%. As a result, the balance of external trade in goods deteriorated by HUF 94.7?billion, although it still showed a surplus of HUF 3.3?thousand billion. The volume of services exports increased by 3.1%, while that of imports fell by 1.0%. The services balance amounted to a surplus of HUF 5.1?thousand billion, HUF 567?billion more than in 2024.

The tables and charts in the latest edition of the Statistical Pocketbook of Hungary provide a comprehensive insight into the development of social and economic trends in Hungary during the year 2024. It aims to provide a summary picture of the country's situation in all possible areas based on preliminary indicators. In this year’s pocketbook, alongside the NACE Rev.2 classification, we also publish the number of business units according to the new NACE Rev.2.1 structure, as well as foreign trade data compiled under the new methodology.

Since 2018, the United Nations has designated 20 May as World Bee Day to highlight the importance of beekeeping and the long standing, ever evolving relationship between humans and bees. The date is no coincidence: it marks the birthday of Anton Janša, a pioneer of modern apiculture. In Hungary, the Day of the Bees has been observed on 30 April since 1994 at the initiative of the National Hungarian Beekeeping Association, as this is the time when life in the hive begins to intensify. Bees are valuable not only for honey production; their pollination activity significantly influences the success of fruit cultivation.

The performance of Hungary’s economy surpassed the previous year’s level by 0.3% in the 1st-3rd quarters of 2025. The increasing performance of the services sector and construction as well as growing consumption had a positive impact on GDP. These impacts however have been subdued by the setback of the industry and agriculture, the continuously subdued investment activity. Retail trade volume continued to rise, foreign demand at accommodation establishments increased, too.

World trade regarding goods and services, following the 2% setback of 2023, grew in 2024 by 4%, to 32 thousand billion USD. External trade in goods increased by 2%, while that in services continued to grow even more strongly, by 10%, surpassing the increase registered in 2023. The share of services in global trade reached 27%, the largest proportion since 2005.