The Czech Republic’s trade surplus widened to CZK 19.3 billion in January 2026 from CZK 17.9 billion a year earlier, but remained below market expectations of CZK 25.5 billion. The improvement was largely driven by a smaller trade deficit in crude petroleum and natural gas, a higher surplus in machinery and equipment, and a reduced deficit in coke and refined petroleum products.
Despite the larger surplus, overall trade activity weakened. Exports declined 0.9% year-on-year to CZK 394 billion, pressured by lower shipments of beverages and tobacco, crude materials (-11%), computers, electronic and optical products (-7%), and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (-6%). Imports fell by an even steeper 1.3% to CZK 374.7 billion, reflecting reduced purchases of mineral fuels and lubricants (-19%), beverages and tobacco (-18%), crude materials (-10%), and food and live animals (-5%).