Balance of trade · Hungary
Hungary Balance of Trade Prel
The Hungary Balance of Trade Prel shows the difference between the value of goods (and sometimes services) that Hungary sells abroad and what it buys from abroad, or the growth of exports and imports.
- Importance
- Low
- Currency
- HUF · Hungarian forint
- Central bank
- The Magyar Nemzeti Bank
Latest figures
The latest release for DEC, published on 3 February 2025, came in at €387M.
| Released | For | Actual | Consensus | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 2025 | DEC | €387M | – | €819M |
| 3 Jan 2025 | NOV | €742M | – | €1039M |
Why it matters
Exports are a big part of demand for open economies (Germany, China, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands). A larger surplus means more foreign demand for the Hungarian forint; strong imports signal domestic demand. China's figures are read as a gauge of world demand.
How it is calculated
Customs records the value of goods crossing the border; services come from surveys. The balance is exports minus imports, usually seasonally adjusted.
Trade balance = exports − importsWhat changes mean
- Look at exports and imports separately: a wider surplus from collapsing imports is a sign of weak domestic demand, not strength.
- Exchange-rate moves take months to affect trade volumes (the J-curve).
Higher than expected: A larger surplus (or smaller deficit) than expected tends to support the Hungarian forint.
Lower than expected: A smaller surplus (or larger deficit) than expected tends to weigh on the Hungarian forint.
A short history
Trade balances were the obsession of mercantilism in the 16th–18th centuries; David Hume's price-specie flow mechanism (1752) explained why surpluses tend to correct themselves.
Questions
What is the Hungary Balance of Trade Prel?
The Hungary Balance of Trade Prel shows the difference between the value of goods (and sometimes services) that Hungary sells abroad and what it buys from abroad, or the growth of exports and imports.
What was the latest Hungary Balance of Trade Prel?
€387M for DEC, published on 3 February 2025.
Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.