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!

Snapshots, 2023 – World Trade

Global external trade in goods lagged, both in value and volume, behind the one year earlier level in 2023, last time a similar setback occurred in 2020. In contrast, the value of the global services turnover slightly surpassed the previous year’s value, at the same time its growth pace was more subdued than in the previous two years. Countries from Asia played the most significant role in the external trade in goods, the bulk of the global services turnover, however, was connected to Europe.

The surplus of the external trade in goods amounted to EUR 965 million, External trade in goods, October 2024 (first estimate)

The value of export lessened by 0.8%, that of import surpassed by 0.2% in EUR terms the same period of the previous year’s values in October 2024. The balance of the external trade in goods deteriorated by EUR 127 million. Compared to the previous month, the level of export of goods increased by 2.9%, its import grew by 3.0%.

The surplus on external trade in services was EUR 3.5 billion in the 3rd quarter, External trade in services, 3rd quarter of 2024

In the third quarter of 2024, service exports calculated in EUR were 4.2% and their imports 1.9% higher than in the same period of the previous year. The surplus was EUR 3.5 billion, EUR 280 million more than in the third quarter of 2023, higher even than the record in the corresponding period of the previous year. Exports were 13%, imports 7.9% and the surplus EUR 631 million higher than in the previous quarter.

Statistical Yearbook of Hungary, 2023

The yearbook provides an overview of Hungary's demographic, social and economic processes, environmental characteristics and their changes over time, with the help of tens of thousands of data of 500 tables, graphs and maps. Innovatively, the Tourism, catering chapter in the volume includes the gross receipts of tourist accommodation establishments by type of accommodation. Another change is that this year the Regional data chapter already presents territorial data by tourism area, giving greater emphasis to tourist destinations.

Hungary, 2023

Geopolitical tensions continued to overshadow economic developments in 2023, with the gross domestic product falling by 0.9%. Inflationary pressures gradually eased, but the 17.6% annual increase in consumer prices led to a decline in real earnings and consumption, and negatively affected investment decisions. Despite the economic difficulties, employment has reached a record high. In 2023, the number of deaths and births continued to fall, in addition to the decrease in the number of women of childbearing age.

Snapshots, 2023 - External trade

The volume of Hungary’s export of goods grew by 2.5%, that of import lessened by 3.5% in 2023. Our balance of the external trade in goods improved by HUF 7.1 thousand billion, showing a surplus of HUF 3.5 thousand billion, partly due to the energy carriers’ price fall. Both the improvement and the surplus were record-high. The external trade in services registered a HUF 4.2 thousand billion surplus, HUF 690 million more than in 2022, the positive balance set a record in this case, too.

Statistical Pocketbook of Hungary, 2023

The tables and graphs in the latest edition of the Statistical Pocketbook of Hungary provide a comprehensive insight into the evolution of social and economic trends in Hungary in 2023. Its international chapter allows for comparisons of major data primarily on member states of the European Union. The publication amasses, starting this year, commercial, private and other accommodation establishments in one unit.