The Czech Republic posted a trade surplus of CZK 13.3 billion in May 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of CZK 2.1 billion, according to preliminary data released by the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO). This positive development in the country’s external trade reflects a favorable shift in export dynamics, particularly in the automotive sector, and a narrowing of deficits in several key industrial categories.
Motor Vehicles Drive Trade Surplus Growth
A substantial contributor to the improved trade balance was the automotive sector, long considered a backbone of the Czech export economy. Surpluses in motor vehicles rose by CZK 6.0 billion year-on-year, underlining continued global demand for Czech-made cars and components. This aligns with broader trends showing strong export performance in the country’s high-value manufacturing industries.
Electrical equipment also saw a boost in exports, up by CZK 2.2 billion compared to May 2024. Together, these gains helped tip the trade balance in favor of exports after three consecutive months during which imports had outpaced exports.
Deficits in Key Sectors Narrowed
Another key factor behind May’s improved trade balance was the narrowing of trade deficits in strategic industrial segments. The trade deficit in computer, electronic, and optical products narrowed by CZK 2.8 billion, as did the deficit in refined petroleum products. These improvements suggest not only increased exports but also possibly reduced reliance on costly imports in these areas, potentially driven by better domestic supply chains or lower global input prices.
Offsetting Factors: Decline in Surplus for Some Sectors
However, not all indicators pointed upward. The overall trade surplus was partially offset by reduced surpluses in fabricated metal products (down CZK 3.4 billion) and electrical equipment (down CZK 2.5 billion). Meanwhile, the trade deficit in crude petroleum and natural gas widened by CZK 2.1 billion, reflecting ongoing challenges tied to energy imports, price volatility, and geopolitical factors influencing global oil and gas supply chains.
EU Trade Positive; Non-EU Deficit Narrows
Trade with European Union member states—by far the Czech Republic’s largest trading partners—continued to be a stabilizing force for the economy. The trade balance with EU countries improved by CZK 4.2 billion compared to May 2024. At the same time, the country managed to narrow its trade deficit with non-EU countries by CZK 0.7 billion, another sign of improving trade efficiency or shifting global sourcing patterns.
Exports Outpace Imports, Despite Fewer Working Days
In absolute terms, Czech exports in May rose by 2.0% year-on-year to CZK 389.8 billion, while imports grew at a slightly slower rate of 1.5% to CZK 376.5 billion. This reversal in the trade dynamic—where exports outpaced imports—comes despite May 2025 having one fewer working day than the same month last year.
“This shift marks a notable turnaround after three months where imports outpaced exports,” said Miluše Kavěnová, Director of the CZSO’s International Trade Statistics Department. “The most significant increases were seen in exports of motor vehicles and their parts, up CZK 5.2 billion, and electrical equipment, which rose by CZK 2.2 billion.”
Short-Term Dip in Monthly Adjusted Figures
On a seasonally adjusted basis, both exports and imports experienced slight month-to-month declines. Exports dropped by 0.2%, while imports decreased by 1.0%. While minor, these figures indicate a short-term contraction in trade volumes, potentially due to external factors such as supply chain disruptions, currency fluctuations, or reduced demand in global markets.
Cumulative 2025 Trade Surplus Lower Than Last Year
Despite May’s gains, the trade surplus for the first five months of 2025 stands at CZK 116.2 billion—CZK 8.0 billion lower than in the same period last year. This decline suggests that while the trade balance showed improvement in May, the broader trend so far in 2025 reflects a slightly more challenging trade environment. Over the January–May period, exports rose by 3.7%, while imports increased by 4.4%, indicating that import growth has been outpacing export performance on a cumulative basis.
Conclusion
The Czech Republic’s trade performance in May 2025 presents a mixed but cautiously optimistic picture. Strength in automotive and electrical exports, along with narrower deficits in key sectors, have helped lift the trade balance. However, challenges remain, especially in the energy import sector and in sustaining export momentum across all industries. As global economic uncertainties persist, the country’s trade figures will likely remain a key barometer of economic resilience and industrial competitiveness in the months ahead.
