The trade balance improved by EUR 160 mln year-on-year. Export volume fell by 5.1%, while import volume decreased by 2% compared with May 2025.
In value terms, exports amounted to EUR 13.2 bln, or HUF 4.741 tln, while imports came to EUR 12.7 bln, or HUF 4.561 tln.
Compared with a year earlier, the value of exports increased by 7.4% and the value of imports grew by 6.3% in euro terms. According to calendar-adjusted data, export volume rose by 0.8%, while import volume increased by 3.6%.
Compared with April 2026, the seasonally and working-day-adjusted volume of exports increased by 1.2%, while import volume fell by 1%.
The HUF price level of external trade in goods rose by 0.5% on the export side and decreased by 3.8% on the import side compared with the same month of the previous year. The terms of trade improved by 4.4%. The forint strengthened by 11% against the euro and by 14% against the U.S. dollar.
The export volume of machinery and transport equipment increased by 1.0%, while its import volume rose by 4.7%. The commodity group dampened the overall decline in export volume by 0.3 percentage points and offset the decrease in import volume by 2.1 percentage points.
The export volume of manufactured goods fell by 11%, while import volume dropped by 7.4%. The change in this commodity group accelerated the overall decline in export volume by 3.3 percentage points and intensified the decline in import volume by 2.7 percentage points.
The export volume of fuels and electric energy decreased by 52%, while import volume fell by 12% year-on-year. In exports, the change in this group intensified the overall decline by 2.1 percentage points, while in imports it amplified the total decrease by 1.1 percentage points.
The export volume of food, beverages and tobacco decreased by 2.9%, while import volume fell by 3.7%. The change in this commodity group contributed 0.3 percentage points to the decline in both total export and import volumes.
Export volume to EU member states decreased by 5.0%, while import volume from the bloc fell by 3.1%. The balance of external trade in goods with EU countries improved by EUR 326 mln compared with May 2025, generating a surplus of EUR 969 mln. EU member states accounted for 74% of exports and 70% of imports.
In trade with countries outside the EU, export volume decreased by 7.6%, while import volume fell by 1.7%. The balance with these countries deteriorated by EUR 166 mln, showing a deficit of EUR 467 mln.
In January-May 2026, the value of exports amounted to EUR 66.0 bln, or HUF 24.804 tln, while imports totaled EUR 62.5 bln, or HUF 23.499 tln.
Compared with the same period of 2025, export volume fell by 4.5%, while import volume rose by 6.4%. The external trade surplus decreased by EUR 1.52 bln to EUR 3.442 bln.
In the first five months, the HUF price level of external trade in goods increased by 2.4% on the export side and decreased by 5.4% on the import side. The terms of trade improved by 8.3%. The forint strengthened by 7.1% against the euro and by 14% against the U.S. dollar.
Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For over 30 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.
