Decrease, but improvement as well

In January-July 2009, the volume of foreign trade was 18 percent lower in export and 25 percent lower in import than one year earlier. KSH’s report also states that our foreign trade balance was positive, with a surplus of HUF 747 billion (EUR 2,582 million), improving by HUF 778 billion (EUR 2,718) from the negative trade balance of HUF 31 billion (EUR 136 million) a year ago. The export volume of food products, beverages and tobacco products was up by 4 percent in the examined period, while the volume of import was down by 6 percent. Cereal and cereal product export grew by 27 percent in volume; the volume of animal feed import decreased by 19 percent.