A landlocked nation in Central Europe also known as Czechia, the Czech Republic’s imports totaled US$210.9 billion in 2021.

That dollar amount reflects a 29.5% increase since 2017 and a 23% uptick from 2020 to 2021.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2021, the Czech koruna appreciated by 7.3% against the US dollar since 2017 and increased by 6.6% from 2020 to 2021. Czech Republic’s stronger local currency makes the Czech Republic’s imports paid for in weaker US dollars in 2021 relatively more expensive when converted starting from Czech korunas.

The most valuable products imported into the Czech Republic in 2021 are computers, automobile parts or accessories, phone devices including smartphones, cars, computer parts or accessories, petroleum gases, crude oil, electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies, and refined petroleum oils.

Applying a continental lens, 78.5% of Czech Republic’s total imports by value in 2021 were purchased from fellow European countries. Asian trade partners fulfilled 18.4% of Czechian import purchases.

Smaller percentages came from North America (2.6%), Africa (0.3%), 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 10.7 million people, its total $210.9 billion in 2021 imported goods translates to roughly $19,700 in yearly product demand from every person in the central European country. That per-capita metric exceeds the average $15,900 for one year earlier in 2020.

Czech Republic’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Czech Republic’s import purchases during 2021. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Czech Republic.

1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$42.1 billion (19.9% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $36.8 billion (17.5%)
3. Vehicles: $18.4 billion (8.7%)
4. Mineral fuels including oil: $12.2 billion (5.8%)
5. Plastics, plastic articles: $11.2 billion (5.3%)
6. Iron, steel: $8.3 billion (3.9%)
7. Pharmaceuticals: $7.3 billion (3.5%)
8. Articles of iron or steel: $5.6 billion (2.7%)
9. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $4.8 billion (2.3%)
10. Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefabricated buildings: $4.1 billion (1.9%)

Czech Republic’s top 10 imports accounted for well over two-thirds (71.5%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

The fastest increases in value among the top 10 import categories from 2020 to 2021 were for mineral fuels including oil (up 100.3%), iron and steel as materials (up 65.2%) then plastics both as materials and items made from plastics (up 30%).

The most modest gaining category year over year was electrical machinery and equipment via a 12.3% expansion.

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under the sections below is at the more granular 4-digit level.

Top Electronics Products Imported by the Czech Republic

In 2021, Czechian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical goods including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$10.7 billion (down -10% from 2020)
2. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $3.5 billion (down -5.2%)
3. Insulated wire/cable: $3.5 billion (up 27.3%)
4. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $2.9 billion (up 35.8%)
5. Electric storage batteries: $2.5 billion (up 79.7%)
6. Electrical converters/power units: $1.8 billion (up 44.4%)
7. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $1.8 billion (up 8.6%)
8. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $1.5 billion (up 20.2%)
9. Electric motors, generators: $1.5 billion (up 20.7%)
10. Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters: $1.2 billion (up 17.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Czech Republic’s purchases of electric storage batteries (up 79.7%), electrical converters or power units (up 44.4%) then lower-voltage switches or fuses (up 35.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

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 2021, Czechian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$11.2 billion (up 17.5% from 2020)
2. Computer parts, accessories: $3.7 billion (down -2.8%)
3. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.6 billion (up 29%)
4. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.5 billion (up 25.7%)
5. Engines (diesel): $1.4 billion (up 15.1%)
6. Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.2 billion (up 18.4%)
7. Miscellaneous machinery: $1.2 billion (up 14.4%)
8. Printing machinery: $1.2 billion (up 16.4%)
9. Air or vacuum pumps: $1 billion (up 11.7%)
10. Piston engines: $1 billion (down -14.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Czech Republic’s purchases of centrifuges, filters and purifiers (up 29%), taps, valves and similar appliances (up 25.7%) then liquid pumps and elevators (up 18.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

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 2021, Czechian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Automobile parts/accessories: US$10.8 billion (up 12% from 2020)
2. Cars: $4.5 billion (up 18.7%)
3. Tractors: $881.3 million (up 42.2%)
4. Trucks: $754.6 million (up 8.5%)
5. Trailers: $396.3 million (up 25.6%)
6. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $336.3 million (up 48%)
7. Motorcycles: $270.9 million (up 35.9%)
8. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $125.9 million (up 20%)
9. Public-transport vehicles: $99.7 million (down -33.3%)
10. Special purpose vehicles: $91.6 million (up 15.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Czech Republic’s purchases of motorcycle parts or accessories (up 48%), tractors (up 42.2%) then motorcycles (up 35.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

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 2021, Czechian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels plus related products.

1. Petroleum gases: US$3.6 billion (up 214.1% from 2020)
2. Crude oil: $3.6 billion (up 67.2%)
3. Processed petroleum oils: $2.7 billion (up 63.5%)
4. Electrical energy: $1.1 billion (up 120.4%)
5. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $650.3 million (up 78.9%)
6. Petroleum oil residues: $135.2 million (up 38.8%)
7. Coke, semi-coke: $69 million (up 51.7%)
8. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $50.8 million (up 42.8%)
9. Lignite: $31.8 million (up 41.4%)
10. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $23.7 million (up 64.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Czech Republic’s purchases of petroleum gases (up 214.1%), electrical energy (up 120.4%) then coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 78.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

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 April 5, 2022

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on April 5, 2022

International Monetary Fund, World

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on April 5, 2022