Hungary trade surplus grows to EUR 891 m in February

Hungary had an 891 million euros trade surplus in February, widening by 49 million euros from the same period a year earlier, the first reading of data released by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Monday shows.

Exports rose by 6.9 percent year on year to 9.117 billion euros during the period. Imports increased by 7.0 percent to 8.226 billion.

Trade with other European Union member states accounted for 82 percent of exports and 76 percent of imports.

In January-February, exports rose by 6.7 percent to 18.121 billion euros and imports increased by 8.4 percent to 16.838 billion. The surplus narrowed by 166 million euros to 1.283 billion euros.

Takarékbank analyst Gergely Suppán said

the full-year trade surplus would come to 5.2 billion euros, down from 5.6 billion in 2018.

Erste Bank junior analyst Zsombor Varga attributed the February rebound to the recovery of the industrial sector. For the full year, Varga forecast a trade surplus of 4.0 to 4.5 billion euros. In 2020, the surplus could start widening again thanks to new export capacities, the analyst added.

Button

HUNGARYTRENDS – MAIN BUSINESS AND FINANCE NEWS FROM PREVIOUS WEEK

Source: MTI