Czechia Export/Import Ratio

Export/import ratio: a snapshot of Czechia’s technology trade balance

The Czech Republic has long been known for its robust industrial base, and in recent years its high-tech sector further solidified its position as a key player in global trade. The nation demonstrated its prowess in the export of technology products, showing a healthy export-to-import ratio that highlights its competitive edge in the high-tech sector.

Source: Czech Statistical Office

High-tech exports: a key pillar of Czechia’s economy

According to the Czech Statistical Office, in 2023, Czechia’s high-tech exports were valued at 457.2 billion CZK (approximately €18.8 billion), accounting for 10.3% of the country’s total goods exports. This indicates the important role high-tech industries such as electronics, machinery, and automotive parts play in Czechia’s export-driven economy. Among the various categories of high-tech exports, electrical machinery took the lead, contributing 156 billion CZK (about €6.3 billion) to the total high-tech export value, showcasing the strength of Czechia’s electrical and electronics manufacturing sector.

The Czech Republic’s exports are primarily directed towards European Union (EU) countries, with 307.2 billion CZK (approximately €12.5 billion) worth of high-tech goods sent to the EU in 2023. This solidifies the EU as Czechia’s main trade partner for high-tech goods, with a significant portion of the country’s advanced technology and machinery finding markets within neighbouring EU states.

ource: Czech Statistical Office

High-tech imports: a growing demand for advanced technologies

On the import side, Czechia faced a higher volume of high-tech imports, which reached 614.4 billion CZK (approximately €24.9 billion) in 2023. This accounted for 14.1% of the country’s total imports, highlighting Czechia’s dependency on foreign high-tech products, particularly in categories such as electrical machinery. The largest portion of high-tech imports was also electrical machinery, with imports totalling 265 billion CZK (about €10.7 billion).

Czechia’s reliance on high-tech imports suggests that, while the country has a strong domestic high-tech production capacity, it still depends on foreign markets for cutting-edge technologies, particularly in areas such as advanced electronics and machinery components that are crucial for local industries.

Source: Czech Statistical Office

Trade balance

Despite the strong performance in high-tech exports, Czechia’s high-tech sector faced a trade deficit in 2023, as imports of high-tech goods exceeded exports. With 614.4 billion CZK (around €24.9 billion) in high-tech imports compared to 457.2 billion CZK (approximately €18.8 billion) in exports, the country saw a deficit of 157.2 billion CZK (around €6.3 billion) in its high-tech trade balance. This imbalance indicates that Czechia remains a net importer of advanced technologies, underscoring the need for continued investment in local innovation and the development of next-generation technologies to reduce this deficit in the future.

Learn more 

• Czech Statistical Office – International trade in high-tech goods.
• The Observatory of Economic Complexity – Czechia (CZE) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners.

Trading Economics “Czech Republic – Trade volume indices: Volume Ratio (Export/Import)”.