At EUR 3.962 billion, merchandise exports in July were 46.3% above the figure in the same month a year ago, while imports rose by 16.4% to EUR 3.025 billion, the Statistics Office reported.

This created the highest monthly trade surplus recorded over the past 20 years. Most of that surplus may be attributed to the surplus in trade with non-EU countries. The export/import ratio was 131%.

Exports to non-EU countries nearly trebled compared to July 2018 to hit a record EUR 1.752 billion, as imports from those countries rose by 62% to EUR 864 million, generating a surplus of EUR 887 million.

Switzerland was Slovenia's most important trading partner outside the EU with medical and pharmaceutical products accounting for the bulk of trade.

Exports to the EU markets rose by 5.6% to EUR 2.21 billion and imports increased by 4.6% to EUR 2.16 billion with a surplus of EUR 49.7 million.

Between January and July 2019, exports were up 14.6% year-on-year to EUR 20.771 billion and imports rose by 12% to EUR 19.825 billion, with a surplus at EUR 946 million and the export/import ratio of 104.8%.