BBJ - Budapest Business Journal

European Parliament Vice President Sophie Wilmès welcomed changes under way in Hungary since the April election, describing reforms as encouraging while warning that restoring the rule of law would take time.

Manufacturing

Coca-Cola HBC Hungary Announces Record HUF 35 bln Expansion

Coca-Cola HBC Magyarország announced a HUF 35 bln investment to expand its Dunaharaszti production center on Wednesday, marking its largest development program in Hungary.

Real Estate

Immocto: Benefiting Business Performance and Client Satisfaction

The BBJ sat down with László Szabó, managing director Studio Casa Kft., the team behind, Hungary-based real estate and property management company Immocto, which helps property owners rent out and manage apartments, particularly in Budapest and around Lake Balaton.

INSIDE VIEW

Investing in Hungary’s Wind Renaissance: What Wind Tender Means for Stakeholders

Energy Efficiency Also a Tax Opportunity

The Price of Medicine: How Discrediting a Competitor Became EUR 1 bln Competition law Risk

Transfer Pricing Remains a Perennial Pharma Industry Issue: New Regulations Bring Fresh Challenges

Pay Transparency: A Practical Tool for Comparing the Value of Different Roles

Energy Investment in Hungary: Sectors, Returns, and the Legal Infrastructure That Makes it Possible

Europe’s new Insolvency Rulebook: What it Means for Hungary

Cyber Resilience Act: Companies Face First 2026 deadline

From Pay Reporting to Litigation Risk: The Impact of the EU Pay Transparency Directive

Hungary’s Proposed Insolvency Regime: What Would the Draft Law Change?

Sci-Fi Today: Tax Returns Entrusted to Machines

Advantages of Hungarian Trust Asset Management Also Available to Foreigners

Mind the 5%: Getting Ahead of Gender Pay Gap Rules in Hungary

Adaptive Reuse of Existing Office Building Stock: Legal Pitfalls

Double Benefit: Energy Efficiency With Tax Benefits

Int'l Relations

Hungarian President Offers Condolences After Deadly Spain Train Crash

President András Baka expressed condolences to the families of those killed in a train crash in Spain on Wednesday, his...

Transport

Ryanair Adds 12th Budapest Aircraft and Eight Routes for Winter

Ryanair will base a 12th aircraft in Budapest for its winter 2026 schedule, operating 54 routes, including eight new connections,...

PRESENTED CONTENT

Immocto: Benefiting Business Performance and Client Satisfaction

Enthusiastic Visionary Optimistic About Sustainable Future

Rethinking Data Strategies From Storage to Recovery

EU Funding Upgrades the Electricity Grid, the Foundation of the Future Energy System

Renewing the Spirit of Countryside Wellness Hospitality

Debrecen to Host Europe’s Battery Leaders at Hungarian Battery Days in November

Government

Hungary Proposes 15% Corporate Tax Rate for Large Companies

The government has submitted a bill that would raise Hungary's corporate tax rate from 9% to 15% for companies with...

Residential

Wekerle Plusz Could Add HUF 55,000 to Monthly Mortgage Payments on Resale Homes

Hungary’s new Wekerle Plusz housing loan program could leave buyers of resale homes paying around HUF 55,000 more a month...

BUSINESS

Appointments

Forvis Mazars Appoints Three New Partners in Hungary

International audit and advisory firm Forvis Mazars has appointed Gabriella Gábor, Zoltán Betyák and Gergely Simon as partners in Hungary,...

Automotive

Michelin Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Presence in Hungary

Michelin celebrated the 30th anniversary of its presence in Hungary at an anniversary event at its Nyíregyháza facility (231 km...

Business

Budapest Circular Economy Hotspot Tests Business Case Beyond Recycling

Budapest’s first European Circular Economy Hotspot put a commercial test at the center of the sustainability debate: can circular products,...

Office Market

Ready When You Are: Rethinking the Office Around the Tenant

Occupiers no longer lease floor area; they buy a working environment. In a tighter economic climate, the landlords that win...

Aldi Hungary Challenges HUF 123 mln Fine Over Advertising Claims

Aldi Magyarország is seeking a court review of a Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) decision fining it HUF 123 mln for...

Shopping Development Dominated by Refurbishment and Retail Parks

Shopping center development remains constrained across Hungary and the CEE region given concerns about the economic environment, spending power, and...

Geely Leads Interest in Chinese Car Brands Newly Launched in Hungary

Geely attracted the most interest among Chinese car brands entering Hungary this year, according to January-September data from used car...

Growing Predominance of BTS in Industrial Development

Analysts see fewer speculative industrial development project starts, while built-to-suit projects, particularly in regional hubs in the production sector, have...

ECONOMY

Agriculture

Dairy Industry Faces Deepening Crisis

Hungary's dairy sector has reached a critical turning point in 2026, as profitability pressures, extreme price volatility, and changing consumer...

Analysis

Hungarian Business Confidence Improves as Consumer Sentiment Weakens

Business confidence edged higher in Hungary in October, while consumer sentiment deteriorated, according to economic research institute GKI....

Banking

Hungarian Banks Seek Gradual Reduction in 45% Effective Tax Burden

Hungarian banks hope for a “slow but certain” reduction in their tax burden, Hungarian Banking Association President Radovan Jelasity said...

Figures

Hungary’s Unemployment Rate Stands at 4.6% in September

Hungary’s unemployment rate stood at 4.6% in September, with 224,000 people unemployed, according to data published by the Central Statistical...

MNB Probe Widens as International Arrest Warrant Issued for Ádám Matolcsy

International arrest warrants have been issued for Ádám Matolcsy, son of former Hungarian central bank Governor György Matolcsy, and businessman...

Kopint-Tárki Forecasts Hungary’s GDP Growth at 2.5% in 2027

Economic research institute Kopint-Tárki expects Hungary’s GDP to grow by approximately 2.5% in 2027, according to a new forecast released...

MNB Holds Base Rate at 5.5%, Maintains Symmetric Interest Rate Corridor

The Monetary Council of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) left the base rate unchanged at 5.5% at its monthly...

Hungary’s 2027 Budget Assumes 2.4% GDP Growth, 3% Inflation

Hungary’s draft 2027 budget assumes GDP growth of 2.4% and average annual inflation of 3%, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said...

POLITICS

Domestic

Hungary Seizes HUF 1.5 bln in Pandemic Equipment Money Laundering Probe

Suspects were detained and HUF 1.5 bln in assets seized in raids targeting an alleged money laundering ring linked to...

Int'l Relations

Magyar Congratulates Serbia’s Student List on Election Victory

Prime Minister Péter Magyar congratulated the leaders of Serbia's opposition Student List in a phone call after their victory in...

Issues

Hungarians Want Stronger Protection of Lake Balaton, Survey Finds

A representative survey by the 21 Research Center found that 65% of Hungarians believe Lake Balaton's shoreline has been overdeveloped....

Government

Hungary’s 2027 Budget Combines Tax Relief, Spending Rises and Cost Cuts

Hungary’s 2027 budget will prioritize “fairness” and “development” through tax relief, higher public sector wages and EU-funded investments, Finance Minister...

Former Hungarian Central Bank Governor György Matolcsy Taken Into Custody

Former MNB Governor György Matolcsy was taken into custody this morning. His lawyer said he is suspected of economic fraud...

Hungary Plans 9% Income Tax for Minimum Wage Earners in 2027 Budget

Hungary is set to cut the personal income tax (PIT) rate for minimum wage earners from 15% to 9% next...

Péter Magyar Condemns Violence in France, Vows to Maintain Strict Migration Policy

PM Péter Magyar condemned recent violence and vandalism in France, expressing solidarity with the French people and reaffirming Hungary’s commitment...

Hungary Secures Norway Grants Agreement Worth HUF 92 bln

Hungary has concluded negotiations on the Norway and EEA Grants mechanism, securing more than HUF 92 billion in funding, Minister...

BUDAPEST

Travel

Budapest Airport Winter Schedule Adds Marsa Alam and More Flights to Asia and Europe

Budapest Airport's 2026/27 winter schedule, which began on October 25, offers more than 185 destinations and approximately 10% more bookable...