Slovakia’s trade balance showed a marked improvement at the start of 2026, with the deficit narrowing to EUR -33.1 million in January 2026, down from EUR -162.7 million in December 2025. The latest figures, updated on 11 March 2026, suggest a significant easing of external imbalances after a weaker year-end performance.
The steep reduction in the trade gap indicates that either exports strengthened, imports moderated, or a combination of both factors helped stabilize Slovakia’s external position at the beginning of the year. While the trade balance remains in negative territory, the January data point to a positive shift in the trajectory compared with the previous month’s deep deficit.
Analysts and market participants will be watching the subsequent months’ releases to assess whether January’s improvement marks the beginning of a more sustained trend toward a smaller trade deficit or is primarily a one-off adjustment after December’s sharp shortfall.
