Slovakia's trade balance swung to a deficit in February, as increase in imports were faster than exports, data from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic showed on Friday.
The trade balance registered a deficit of EUR 258.7 million in February versus a surplus of EUR 496.4 million in the same month last year. In January, the trade deficit was EUR 335.8 million.
Economists had forecast a deficit of EUR 239.6 million.
Exports growth increased to 11.1 percent annually in February and imports rose for the thirteenth consecutive month by 23.2 percent.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus was EUR 475.1 million in February. Exports and imports rose by 10.0 percent and 22.0 percent, respectively.
