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.

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HCSO Monitor

The collection of interactive figures provides up-to-date information on the latest domestic and international socio-economic trends. The decisive part of the figures included in HCSO Monitor are downloadable in both image and data formats (PNG, SVG and CSV). Feel free to browse the data in HCSO Monitor, updated many times a week!

The surplus of the external trade in services in the 1st quarter was EUR 2.5 billion; External trade in services, 1st quarter of 2026

Service exports calculated in EUR increased by 4.5%, imports by 4.8% in the 1st quarter of 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year. The surplus reached EUR 2.5 billion, EUR 94 million higher than in the 1st quarter of 2025. The export value decreased by 13%, that of import by 8.9%, generating an EUR 685 million balance decrease compared to the previous quarter.

The surplus of the external trade in goods was EUR 104 million in April, the volume of export decreased by 4.9%, that of import grew by 10% compared to the same period of the previous year; External trade in goods, April 2026

The surplus was EUR 104 million, the balance decreased by EUR 1045 million, year-on-year. The volume of export decreased by 4.9%, that of import grew by 10% compared to the same period of the previous year. The seasonally and working-day adjusted volume of export increased by 3.4%, that of import by 1.1% compared to March 2026.

Statistical Pocketbook of Hungary, 2025

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.

Day of Bees, 30 April

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.

Hungary 1st-3rd quarters of 2025 – Continuously increasing consumption

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.

Snapshots, 2024 – World Trade

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.

Statistical Yearbook of Hungary, 2024

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. In the chapter devoted to earnings and incomes, it is a novelty compared to previous years that net earnings in which allowances and types of exemptions are accounted for, too, came into focus from 2019. In the number of employees, people working in working time shorter than 60 working hours per month are also taken into account. In addition, the theme of environment is completed with areas declared world heritage sites by UNESCO.

Snapshots, 2024 - External trade

The volume of Hungary’s export of goods lessened in 2024 by 2.1%, its import by 3.7%. At the same time the balance of the external trade of goods improved by 1.2 thousand billion HUF, showing a surplus of 4.6 thousand billion HUF. The value of the export in services grew by 6.8%, that of its import by 5.3%, generating a 4.4 thousand billion HUF surplus, 404 billion more than in 2023.