External Trade of the Czech Republic
External Trade Statistics in January - December 2002 | Contents |
External Trade in December 2002 / 2
The balance improved in trade in ‘machinery and transport equipment’ (increase in surplus by CZK 42.4 bn) and ‘raw materials, semi-finished and chemical products’ (decrease in deficit by CZK 8.6 bn). On the other hand, the balance of trade in agricultural goods and food got worse (increase in deficit by CZK 3.8 bn).
In the year 2002, exports after outward processing reached CZK 362.3 bn (fell by 7.1% y-o-y) and share of total exports decreased to 28.9%. Imports for the purpose of inward processing were CZK 263.4 bn (fell by 4.6%), share of total imports remained at the 2001 (19.9%). The balance of outward processing reached surplus of CZK 98.9 bn (of which with Germany CZK 62.4 bn) and was lower by CZK 15.0 bn (of which with Germany by CZK 15.7 bn).
Improvement of trade balance occurred primarily due to the trade in computers (exports grew by 97.1%, surplus grew by CZK 31.2 bn), petroleum and nature gas (deficit fell by CZK 24.4 bn) and power generating machinery and equipment (the CZK 4.6 bn deficit turned into surplus of CZK 3.6 bn). The unfavourable development was reported particularly in trade in road vehicles (decrease in surplus by CZK 7.6 bn) and manufactures of metals (decrease in surplus by CZK 6.5 bn).
The balance ended in surplus particularly with the EU member states and with the CEFTA member states. Trade deficit increased primarily in trade with developing economies and with countries using a state trading system.
Improvement of trade balance occurred primarily in trade with Great Britain, the Netherlands, Russia, the United States, France and Hungary. The balance got worse in trade with China, Poland, Belgium, South Korea, Taiwan and Germany.
In December current price imports dropped 1.7% and exports grew by 0.6% y-o-y. In terms of USD external trade grew faster (imports went up by 17.0%, exports by 19.7%) than in terms of EUR (imports went up by 2.7%, exports by 5.1%).
Trade balance ended in deficit of CZK 18.8 bn – by CZK 2.4 bn down on December 2001. The balance of trade was positively affected by lower deficit of trade in ‘machinery and transport equipment’ (by CZK 4.3 bn) that exceeded the increase in deficit of trade in other commodity groups, mainly in ‘raw materials, semi-finished and chemical products’ (by CZK 1.5 bn) and agricultural and food products (by CZK 0.4 bn).
The balance of outward processing reached surplus of CZK 5.3 bn (y-o-y decrease of CZK 2.5 bn), of which CZK 2.7 bn was reached with Germany (decrease of CZK 3.3 bn).
Improvement of trade balance occurred primarily due to decrease in deficit of trade with developed market economies while deficit of trade with the EU member states grew. Also deficit of trade with countries using a state trading system increased and deficit of trade with developing countries went up. Active balance was reported only for trade with the CEFTA member states and the surplus grew.
The favourable development was reported particularly in trade with the United States, Great Britain and France. Contrary to this, the trade deficit grew mainly with Germany, Russia and South Korea.
Seasonally adjusted imports were 4.5% and exports 6.2% down m-o-m
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Note: Data as at 15 January 2003 closing date.
This press release was not edited for language.
/ Starting with 1 July 2000, the Czech Statistical Office made a methodological adjustment to external trade statistics, which excludes mainly the following items from external trade:
the value of ships and aircraft imported for the purpose of inward processing and exported after inward processing
the value of ships and aircraft exported for the purpose of outward processing and imported after outward processing
the value of returned goods, i.e. goods that have come back in the same state into the free circulation regime within three years after their export from the Czech Republic
the value of exported goods, the purpose of which is other than leaving the goods permanently abroad, and re-import is supposed
monetary gold