The trade surplus in the Czech Republic narrowed to CZK 15.5 billion in June 2026 from CZK 26.9 billion a year earlier, falling below market expectations of CZK 17.0 billion. Imports rose 14.9% year-on-year to CZK 449.2 billion, lifted by higher purchases of mineral fuels and lubricants (+27.9%), machinery and transport equipment (+19.0%), crude materials (+18.5%), animal and vegetable oils (+17.2%), and chemicals and related products (+16.6%). Meanwhile, exports grew 11.2% to CZK 464.7 billion, driven by higher sales of mineral fuels and lubricants (+82.2%), crude materials (+24.6%), beverages and tobacco (+14.4%), chemicals and related products (+13.7%), and machinery and transport equipment (+9.6%). In the first half of the year, the trade surplus reached CZK 107.8 billion, down from CZK 132.6 billion a year earlier, as imports outpaced exports, rising 6.6% and 5.2%, respectively.