That dollar amount reflects a 29% upturn compared to $179.3 billion five years earlier during 2019.
From 2022 to 2023, the overall cost for products imported into Czechia fell -2.1% starting from $236.3 billion.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2023, the Czech koruna appreciated by 3.2% against the US dollar since 2019 and strengthened by 5% from 2022 to 2023. Czech Republic’s stronger local currency makes the Czech Republic’s imports paid for in stronger US dollars in 2023 relatively less expensive when converted starting from Czech korunas.
Best Suppliers for Czech Republic’s Imports
The latest available country-specific data shows that 78.4% of products imported into the Czech Republic was furnished by exporters in: Germany (26.3% of the Czech total), mainland China (11.9%), Poland (9.3%), Slovakia (5.9%), Netherlands (5.8%), Italy (3.9%), Austria (3.7%), Hungary (3%), France (2.9%), Belgium (2.3%), Spain (1.7%) and United States of America (also 1.7%).
Applying a continental lens, over three-quarters (76.9%) of the Czech Republic’s total imports by value in 2023 was purchased from fellow European countries. Asian trade partners fulfilled 20.2% of Czechian import purchases.
Czechia’s import purchases from fellow European Union members equaled 72.4% of overall Czech imports.
Smaller percentages came from suppliers in North America (2.2%), Africa (0.4%), Latin America (0.2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.1%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Given Czech Republic’s population of 11 million people, its total $231.3 billion in 2023 imported goods translates to roughly $21,000 in yearly product demand from every person in the central European country. That per-capita metric lags the average $22,500 for one year earlier in 2022.
Czech Republic’s Top 10 Imports
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Czech Republic’s import purchases during 2023. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Czech Republic.
- Electrical machinery, equipment: US$52.1 billion (22.5% of total imports)
- Machinery including computers: $34.3 billion (14.8%)
- Vehicles: $23.7 billion (10.2%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $14.2 billion (6.1%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $11 billion (4.8%)
- Iron, steel: $7.7 billion (3.3%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $7.4 billion (3.2%)
- Articles of iron or steel: $5.7 billion (2.4%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $5.5 billion (2.4%)
Czech Republic’s top 10 imports approached three-quarters (71.8%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
The fastest increases in value among the top 10 import categories from 2022 to 2023 were for Czechia’s purchases of vehicles (up 19.3%), optical, technical and medical apparatus (up 12.3%), furniture, bedding, lighting, signs and prefabricated buildings (up 8%), then pharmaceuticals (up 5.5%).
There was a pair of product categories recording double-digit percentage declines, namely for imports of mineral fuels including oil (down -35.7% from 2022) and the metals iron and steel (down -15.6%).
Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level.
At the more detailed 4-digit level, the most valuable products imported into the Czech Republic in 2023 were phone devices including smartphones (6.5% of Czechia’s total), automobile parts or accessories (5.5%), computer parts or accessories (3.6%), cars (2.9%), electric storage batteries (2.6%), medication mixes in dosage (2.3%), crude oil (1.8%), petroleum gases (1.7%), insulated wire or cable (also up 1.7%), and processed petroleum oils (1.6%).
Top Electronics Products Imported by the Czech Republic
In 2023, Czechian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical goods including consumer electronics.
- Phone devices including smartphones: US$15 billion (down -6.6% from 2022)
- Electric storage batteries: $5.9 billion (up 35.2%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $4 billion (up 7.5%)
- Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $3.4 billion (down -4.3%)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $3.2 billion (up 5.6%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $2.7 billion (up 7.6%)
- Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $2.1 billion (up 22.7%)
- Electric motors, generators: $1.7 billion (up 5.8%)
- TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $1.3 billion (down -29.3%)
- Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters: $1.2 billion (up 8%)
Among these import subcategories, Czech Republic’s purchases of electric storage batteries (up 35.2%), electrical or optical circuit boards and panels (up 22.7%) then electrical lighting, signaling equipment and defrosters (up 8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of electronics-related imports among Czechian businesses and consumers.
Top Machinery Products Including Computers Imported by the Czech Republic
In 2023, Czechian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.
- Computers, optical readers: US$8.4 billion (down -19.6% from 2022)
- Computer parts, accessories: $1.8 billion (down -35.3%)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.6 billion (up 4.4%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.4 billion (down -7.8%)
- Piston engines: $1.4 billion (up 40.2%)
- Engines (diesel): $1.4 billion (up 4%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $1.4 billion (up 22.8%)
- Printing machinery: $1.4 billion (up 13.4%)
- Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.3 billion (up 17.2%)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $1.2 billion (up 4.8%)
Among these import subcategories, Czech Republic’s purchases of piston engines (up 40.2%), miscellaneous machinery (up 22.8%) then liquid pumps and elevators (up 17.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of machinery-related imports among Czechian businesses and consumers.
Top Vehicles Products Imported by the Czech Republic
In 2023, Czechian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.
- Automobile parts/accessories: US$12.8 billion (up 15.2% from 2022)
- Cars: $6.8 billion (up 29.7%)
- Trucks: $1.2 billion (up 46.6%)
- Tractors: $1.2 billion (up 18.4%)
- Trailers: $436.8 million (up 2.9%)
- Motorcycle parts/accessories: $332 million (down -24.7%)
- Motorcycles: $300.4 million (down -1.5%)
- Public-transport vehicles: $160.8 million (up 54.3%)
- Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $143.3 million (down -3.3%)
- Special purpose vehicles: $118.3 million (up 21.6%)
Among these import subcategories, Czech Republic’s purchases of public-transport vehicles (up 54.3%), trucks (up 46.6%) then cars (up 29.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of vehicles-related imports among Czechian businesses and consumers.
Top Mineral Fuels Products Including Oil Imported by the Czech Republic
In 2023, Czechian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels plus related products.
- Crude oil: US$4.3 billion (down -13.1% from 2022)
- Petroleum gases: $4 billion (down -59.1%)
- Processed petroleum oils: $3.6 billion (down -8.9%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $1 billion (down -26.3%)
- Electrical energy: $957 million (down -39.2%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $112.4 million (down -11.3%)
- Coke, semi-coke: $76.9 million (down -36.2%)
- Distilled tar: $33.7 million (up 102.3%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $32.4 million (up 17%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $31.2 million (down -25.2%)
Among these import subcategories, Czech Republic’s purchases of distilled tar (up 102.3%) and high temperature distilled coal tar oils (up 17%) grew from 2022 to 2023.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among Czechian businesses and consumers.
See also Czech Republic’s Top Trading Partners and Czech Republic’s Top 10 Exports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on May 18, 2024
International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on May 18, 2024
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on May 18, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 18, 2024