Imports, which had dropped by 8% year-on-year in August, also returned to growth - at EUR 1.86bn they were up by 3.9% over the same month a year ago.

The data indicate Slovenia registered a trade surplus of EUR 32m in September, which reduced the deficit generated in the first nine months of the year to EUR 317m.

Slovenian exports in the first nine months of the year were valued at EUR 16.146bn (up 2.4% y/y), while imports amounted to EUR 16.463m (down 0.4% y/y), the Statistics Office said.

The EU remains Slovenia's biggest trade partner, accounting for nearly 76% of all exports and more than 78% of all imports in October.