Stats: Slovak Exports Exceeded Imports in August 2024 as Well

Bratislava, October 9 (TASR) - Slovakia's exports exceeded imports in August 2024 as well, even though both exports and the trade surplus recorded year-on-year drops, the Statistics Office reported on Wednesday. The trade surplus in August equalled almost €141 million, the second-lowest value since the beginning of the year. The dip in exports was mainly due to lower automobile exports, while the growth in imports was influenced by y-o-y growth in the prices of energy commodities. According to preliminary data, goods worth €8.1 billion were exported in August 2024, a y-o-y decrease for the fifth time this year and one of 3.8 percent in August. The slump can mostly be attributed to lower automobile exports. Imports of goods saw an uptick of 0.6 percent to €8 billion. The slight increase was the outcome of growing prices of energy commodities. The trade balance posted a surplus for the eighth month in a row, almost €141 million in August. It was the second-lowest value this year and also significantly lower than in August 2023, when the surplus exceeded €505 million. Slovakia's main longstanding trading partner is the EU, to which 78 percent of all exports in August were headed. Meanwhile, 66 percent of all Slovak imports came from these countries. Exports to the EU recorded a slight dip of about 3 percent y-o-y, while imports went up by 3 percent. Trade with countries outside the EU went down y-o-y in August, both in terms of exports and imports. mf/df