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Estimation of the external trade in services quarterly data with monthly data, February 2026

Released: 8 May 2026

In the February 2026 period, compared to the base period, there was a 2.7% (14.4 billion HUF) decrease in import, while a 12.1% (61.3 billion HUF) increase in export, in terms of the estimated monthly foreign trade turnover in services in Hungary.

 On the import side, the decreased was primarily present at companies with 50–249 employees, amounting to 24% (25.5 billion HUF). In terms of sectoral breakdown, the manufacturing industry (C) and electricity (D) groups contributed to the decline in import. 

On the export side, the increase was due to an 21% (68 billion HUF) increase in turnover for companies with over 250 employees. In terms of divisions, the increase was primarily driven by the manufacturing industry (C) and the transport (H) groups.

Experiences so far

The external trade in services statistics performs a major revision between October and December of each year, having an impact on the previously published quarterly and annual data. VAT returns data are an important verification basis during the revision. Tables 1 and 2 illustrate what this means in regard to the data estimated on the basis of VAT returns data and produced based on the OSAP 1470 questionnaire.

Table 1
Value of external trade in services by headcount categories: Import
(thousand HUF)
Headcount category 2026 2025 Difference from base % difference
0–9 persons 29 775 777    25 614 937    4 160 840 16.2%
10–49 persons 43 345 706    48 146 565    –4 800 859 –10.0%
50–249 persons 81 125 601    106 573 818    –25 448 217 –23.9%
250 of more persons 292 358 124    290 784 256    1 573 868 0.5%
Unknown 18 690 216    14 618 018    4 072 198 27.9%
Other adjustment 51 180 670    45 106 481    6 074 189 13.5%
Total turnover 516 476 094    530 844 075    –14 367 981 –2.7%
Table 2
Value of external trade in services by headcount categories: Export
(thousand HUF)
Headcount category Difference from base % difference
0–9 persons 32 440 982 34 350 945 –1 909 963 –5.6%
10–49 persons 49 467 880 49 689 879 –221 999 –0.4%
50–249 persons 95 575 145 104 506 553 –8 931 408 –8.5%
250 of more persons 393 805 597 325 805 971 67 999 626 20.9%
Unknown 42 090 403 35 766 512 6 323 891 17.7%
Other adjustment –47 000 000 –45 000 000 –2 000 000 4.4%
Total turnover 566 380 007 505 119 860 61 260 147 12.1%
Table 3
Value of external trade in services by divisional breakdown: Import
(thousand HUF)
Code of division 2026 2025 Difference from base % difference
A 339 567    349 501    –9 934    –2.8%
B 813 551    537 198    276 353   51.4%
C 138 158 777    159 741 748    –21 582 971    –13.5%
D 16 832 236    41 440 508    –24 608 272    –59.4%
E 551 360    545 356    6 004    1.1%
F 5 922 280    5 579 717    342 563    6.1%
G 72 442 585    61 432 980    11 009 605    17.9%
H 132 483 715    122 358 942    10 124 773    8.3%
I 3 622 804    911 666   2 711 138    297.4%
J 11 796 749    13 521 762    –1 725 013    –12.8%
K 31 705 754    30 960 262    745 492    2.4%
L 4 935 479    7 309 362    –2 373 883    –32.5%
M 22 214    552 863    –530 649    –96.0%
N 27 583 014    24 374 355    3 208 659    13.2%
O 7 495 268    7 806 972    –311 704    –4.0%
P 822 952    1 136 188    –313 236    –27.6%
Q 1 376 372    1 238 750    137 622    11.1%
R 1 209 511    953 605    255 906    26.8%
S 4 969 532   3 089 253    1 880 279    60.9%
T 2 211 704    1 896 606    315 098    16.6%
Other adjustment 51 180 670    45 106 481   6 074 189    13.5%
Total turnover 516 476 094    530 844 075    –14 367 981    –2.7%
Table 4
Value of external trade in services by divisional breakdown: Export
(thousand HUF)
Code of division 2026 2025 Difference from base % difference
A 179 147    254 727    –75 580    –29.7%
B 99 446    103 346    –3 900    –3.8%
C 173 992 447    138 562 855    35 429 592    25.6%
D 10 931 177    17 368 439   –6 437 262    –37.1%
E
F 5 368 067    1 156 625    4 211 442    364.1%
G 2 773 267    2 164 651    608 616    28.1%
H 27 250 526    25 182 722    2 067 804    8.2%
I 252 446 446    231 328 005    21 118 441    9.1%
J 157 885    90 706    67 179    74.1%
K 15 836 711   23 892 807    –8 056 096    –33.7%
L 47 003 836    38 814 168    8 189 668    21.1%
M 2 916 067    1 716 048    1 200 019    69.9%
N 118 211    1 770 768    –1 652 557    –93.3%
O 60 539 698    51 616 343    8 923 355    17.3%
P 8 780 152    11 450 041    –2 669 889   –23.3%
Q 395 688    35 163    360 525    1025.3%
R 465 220    577 300   –112 080    –19.4%
S 547 001    598 892    –51 891    –8.7%
T 238 5943    1341 593   1 044 350    77.8%
Other adjustment 1 193 072    2 094 661    –90 1589    –43.0%
Total turnover –47 000 000    –45 000 000   –2 000 000    4.4%
Table 5
Difference between quarterly aggregated indicator data estimated based on VAT returns and balance of payments services foreign trade data
(%)
Year Quarter Difference
service import service export
2022 Q1 5.01% 2.35%
2022 Q2 6.53% –1.52%
2022 Q3 4.58% –3.79%
2022 Q4 –0.91% –5.89%
2023 Q1 –1.94% –0.30%
2023 Q2 3.26% 0.74%
2023 Q3 –1.79% 1.73%
2023 Q4 –1.21% 2.31%
2024 Q1 –1.34% 8.24%
2024 Q2 2.83% 9.56%
2024 Q3 –0.49% 11.59%
2024 Q4 3.01% 2.14%
2025 Q1 5.03% 8.28%
2025 Q2 4.56% 6.45%
2025 Q3 2.71% 5.78%
2025 Q4 –2.47% 3.77%
Table 6
Difference between annual aggregated indicator data estimated based on VAT returns and balance of payments services trade data
(%)
 Year Difference
service import service export
2022 3.80% –2.21%
2023 –0.42% 1.12%
2024 1.07% 7.79%
2025 2.32% 6.01%

The HCSO generally set a target of ±5% deviation within the framework of this experimental statistics.
Table 7
Value of service import,* thousand HUF
Month 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
January 390 464 619 526 993 297 517 019 055 502 942 903 552 968 275
February 379 101 478 543 979 850 559 787 970 530 844 075 516 476 094
March 742 502 283 896 157 751 922 444 734 919 031 256
April 443 542 985 497 034 594 535 788 240 503 867 655
May 466 050 795 493 528 870 556 660 585 558 083 082
June 778 612 152 858 923 862 911 383 968 871 061 772
July 516 577 559 542 034 371 621 685 314 602 478 942
August 482 131 741 506 706 788 578 531 571 569 721 341
September 838 190 588 858 369 224 954 187 332 852 659 951
October 539 829 588 490 902 870 587 417 035 571 219 600
November 594 785 838 590 686 008 629 535 524 623 190 788
December 1 117 390 416 985 049 234 1 043 777 319 1 137 311 452
* Estimated monthly data.
Table 8
Value of service export,* thousand HUF
Month 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
January 354 510 852 545 985 505 487 783 827 547 941 320 538 683 858
February 372 640 913 510 473 666 502 021 652 505 119 860 566 380 007
March 1 129 354 246 1 403 163 957 1 422 002 694 1 439 562 085
April 523 999 367 541 159 757 569 057 891 601 529 880
May 523 798 673 554 015 854 535 351 632 632 107 626
June 1 215 005 755 1 344 603 616 1 344 302 403 1 423 114 851
July 572 942 585 582 106 585 593 146 464 654 623 376
August 609 031 664 579 000 888 539 454 677 571 705 982
September 1 318 457 973 1 300 824 833 1 453 891 571 1 486 175 094
October 589 342 290 521 512 334 661 729 343 618 604 138
November 604 014 854 580 563 549 645 238 663 591 238 228
December 1 592 044 804 1 447 919 424 1 663 826 044 1 696 055 210
* Estimated monthly data.
Figure 1
Figure 2

Methodology

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