Prague - Mainly thanks to a greater number of work days, April was marked by an increase in Czech foreign trade.
In comparison to last year, export in April grew by 12.6 percent while import grew only by 11.1 percent.
These numbers were provided by the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ).
Positive trade balance
Trade balance ended with a surplus of CZK 8.3 billion (332 million euro), which is CZK 3.4 billion (136 million euro) more than last year.
This surplus was cause above all by an increase in surplus in trade with machinery and transportation devices which equaled CZK 5.3 billion (212 million euro).
From January to April, export had risen by 7.4 percent and import by 8.2 percent. Trade balance surplus of CZK 41.3 billion (1.6 billion euro) was, according to statistics, CZK 2.5 billion (100 million euro) lower.
Surplus expected to decrease
According to analyst Helena Horská from Raiffeisenbank, higher oil prices and increased import of gas hampered better results of trade balance.
"Increase of oil prices together with the strengthening position of Czech Crown and the decreasing number of foreign commissions will be an inconvenience for Czech exporters. We expect the surplus to decrease to CZK 60 billion," added Horská.
