2026.09.3007:04:50UTC+00Hungary Trade Balance Shifts to Deficit

Hungary posted a trade deficit of EUR 480.9 million in August 2026, a sharp reversal from the EUR 658.6 million surplus recorded in the same month a year earlier. Exports rose by 15.8% year-on-year to EUR 12,044.0 million, driven primarily by higher shipments of machinery and transport equipment. These gains more than offset declines in exports of processed products, energy carriers, and food, beverages and tobacco. By region, exports to EU member states increased by 2.3%, while exports to non-EU countries fell by 1.8%.

Imports climbed 28.6% to EUR 12,524.9 million, supported by stronger purchases of machinery and transport equipment as well as processed products. These increases outweighed lower imports of food, beverages and tobacco, and energy carriers. Geographically, imports rose in both EU markets (up 8.2%) and non-EU markets (up 24%).

Over the January–August period, Hungary recorded a trade surplus of EUR 4,879.8 million, down from EUR 7,019.4 million in the same period a year earlier. During this interval, exports increased by 9.3%, while imports grew at a faster pace of 12.4%.