Tuesday, 8 September 2026
Slovakia’s foreign trade accelerated in July 2026, with both exports and imports recording strong year-on-year growth as machinery and transport equipment continued to dominate the country’s international goods flows.
Exports reached approximately €9.1 billion during the month, increasing 6.6% from July 2025. Imports grew faster, rising 9.4% to a similar level. This left the country with a marginal trade deficit of around €0.8 million, compared with a €216.5 million surplus a year earlier.
The small deficit masks a broader improvement in trading activity. July was the second consecutive month in which both exports and imports posted relatively strong annual increases, according to preliminary data from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.
Machinery and transport equipment, which includes motor vehicles, remained the most important component of Slovak trade. The category accounted for almost 60% of exports and 48% of imports. Its export value increased by more than 6% year-on-year, while imports grew by almost 11%.
Slovakia also remains heavily integrated with the European Union. Around 79% of July exports were destined for other EU member states, while approximately 66% of imports originated within the bloc. Exports to EU markets increased by almost 7%, while imports from them rose by nearly 13%.
This resulted in a significant geographic difference in the trade balance. Slovakia generated a surplus of more than €1.2 billion with EU countries during July, while its trade with countries outside the bloc produced a deficit of a similar magnitude.
The cumulative figures remain positive despite July’s marginal deficit. During the first seven months of 2026, Slovak exports increased 3.4% to €66.6 billion, while imports rose 3.2% to €65 billion. The resulting trade surplus reached €1.7 billion, compared with €1.5 billion during the same period last year.
The figures underline the importance of manufacturing and cross-border supply chains to the Slovak economy. With machinery and transport equipment responsible for such a large proportion of goods movements, developments in automotive production and European industrial demand remain particularly important for the country’s factories, transport networks and logistics sector.
For Slovakia’s industrial property market, continued growth in international goods flows provides a supportive economic backdrop. However, faster import growth and the country’s strong dependence on EU markets also highlight how closely future industrial performance remains tied to conditions elsewhere in Europe.
