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Czechia recorded a foreign trade surplus of CZK 16.2 billion in November last year, according to the data released by the Czech Statistics Office on Tuesday. The surplus was down by CZK five billion compared to the same period a year earlier.

The weaker result was mainly due to a year-on-year decline in the trade surplus in motor vehicles. On the positive side, trade in chemicals helped the overall balance, as the trade deficit in this sector narrowed compared with November 2024.

Exports fell by 4.6 percent year-on-year in November to CZK 403.1 billion. Imports also declined, down 3.6 percent to CZK 386.9 billion.

Finance Minister Alena Schillerová is set to present the state budget results for last year, with the deficit expected to exceed the original plan. The approved budget foresaw a shortfall of CZK 241 billion, but Schillerová has said the final figure will likely be deeper, possibly surpassing the 2024 deficit of CZK 271.4 billion. Most of the year’s budget was managed by the previous government led by Petr Fiala, while the cabinet of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the ANO party leader, took office in mid-December. The Finance Ministry will also release preliminary data on state debt.

A Three Kings procession marking Epiphany passed through central Prague, drawing large crowds of residents and tourists. Figures dressed as the Three Kings rode camels from Malostranské Square across Charles Bridge to the Old Town, highlighting the annual Three Kings charity collection organised by Charita Česká republika. The procession also drew attention to the scale of the nationwide charity drive linked to Three Kings Day. More than 75,000 volunteers take part across Czechia each year, going door to door with collection boxes until mid-January. The funds raised support a wide range of social and humanitarian projects in towns and villages across the country, as well as assistance abroad.

Foreign Minister Petr Macinka met Ukraine’s ambassador to Czechia Vasyl Zvarych on Monday, saying they discussed, among other things, the mood of part of Czech society. Macinka added he will continue the talks on Tuesday in a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha. The meeting followed Zvarych’s criticism of anti-Ukrainian remarks made by lower house speaker Tomio Okamura of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party in his New Year’s address. Macinka said the talks were held in a serious atmosphere and did not amount to a diplomatic summons. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the ANO party leader, said Okamura spoke as an SPD leader, adding that the ambassador had overstepped diplomatic custom.