Az acélimporttal rendszeresen foglalkozó vállalkozások számára a Mill Test Certificate nem újdonság. MTC-t eddig is kértek számos acéltermékhez, és az orosz szankciók miatt az elmúlt években a származás igazolása is a vámkezelés fontos részévé vált. Jogosan merül fel tehát a kérdés: mi változott 2026. október 1-jétől? A válasz nem maga az MTC. Az újdonság az, hogy az EU az érintett acéltermékeknél külön vámjogi adatként követeli meg az olvasztás és öntés országának bejelentését, valamint az ezt és az olvasztási számot alátámasztó bizonyítékot.

Botond Barabás

6 napja•7min

In the first part of our interview with ITRI, we explored Taiwan's innovation ecosystem and the cooperation opportunities available to European companies. In the second part, we bring the discussion closer to Hungary and Central and Eastern Europe.

Botond Barabás

6 napja•11min

From a European perspective, Taiwan's technological importance is easily associated with the semiconductor industry. Yet one of the less visible strengths of the island's economic and innovation system is the infrastructure that turns research results into industrial technologies and, ultimately, marketable solutions. One of the key institutions in this system is the Industrial Technology Research Institute, ITRI.

Botond Barabás

2026. október 1.•11min

ITRI is far less well known in Europe than some of the companies it helped create. Yet the Industrial Technology Research Institute, founded in Taiwan in 1973, played a role in the emergence of companies such as UMC and TSMC. During our visit to Hsinchu, however, the past itself was not the most interesting part. What stood out was the system in which research, intellectual property and industrial application continue to build on one another.

Botond Barabás

2026. szeptember 25.•9min

More than 50,000 visitors from 64 countries, nearly 450 exhibitors and around 1,100 technologies on display – these were the headline figures as Taiwan Innotech Expo 2026 closed on September 19. Yet after three days, visitor numbers were not the most interesting outcome. More revealing was seeing how Taiwan is working to shorten the journey from the research lab to the market.

Botond Barabás

2026. szeptember 24.•8min

Taiwan Innotech Expo 2026 opened in Taipei on September 17. Over the three-day event, companies and research institutions from 18 countries are presenting developments ranging from artificial intelligence and semiconductors to smart manufacturing, healthcare and sustainability technologies. This year, however, TIE is not simply about what Taiwan can showcase. It is just as much about how many of these developments reach international markets.

Botond Barabás

2026. szeptember 17.•6min

More than 1,000 innovations, 435 companies and research institutions, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, drones, smart manufacturing, healthcare technologies and sustainability solutions. Taiwan Innotech Expo 2026 opens in Taipei on September 17. The figures show the scale of the event, but from a business perspective the more important question is which technologies could lead to real industrial applications, technology transfer or international cooperation.

Botond Barabás

2026. szeptember 12.•8min

The volume of international road freight fell by around 7 percent and transport performance by nearly 9 percent. At the same time, carriers' costs are rising, and the strengthening forint is putting further pressure on the profitability of international road transport. We looked at what the logistics data actually say, and what they might signal about the coming months of the Hungarian economy.

Botond Barabás

2026. szeptember 10.•12min

In the first six months of 2026, Hungary exported goods worth more than EUR 81 billion. Machinery and transport equipment accounted for around 60 percent of exports. Yet gross export value is only one measure of a country's external economic performance. An equally important question is how much of the value of exported goods is actually created within Hungary. According to the OECD's latest comparable data, there is still considerable room for improvement here.

Elisabeth Mayer

2026. augusztus 26.•9min

From 17 to 19 September 2026, Taipei will become a meeting point for research, industrial innovation and international business for three days. Taiwan Innotech Expo 2026 is more than a showcase of future technologies: it brings together research results, intellectual property-based solutions and market-ready innovations that could lead to licensing agreements, joint development projects or new supplier relationships.

Botond Barabás

2026. augusztus 25.•6min

In June, the volume of Hungarian merchandise exports grew by 8.7 percent year on year. Behind the impressive figure, however, lie a significant calendar effect and a weak first-half performance. Meanwhile, another, strategically important trend is emerging: while Hungarian exports to the EU declined, exports to markets outside the Union expanded. The question is therefore no longer just when export growth will resume on a lasting basis, but also how far Hungarian companies can reduce their exposure to foreign markets.

Elisabeth Mayer

2026. augusztus 25.•9min

Medicine, alcohol, cash, pets or even firearms can all fall into categories subject to special travel rules. The Hungarian Tax and Customs Administration's (NAV) new passenger guide, available in several languages, helps travelers navigate the most important questions in plain language.

ImportExport.hu Szerkesztőség

2026. augusztus 11.•7min

If your company imported CBAM-liable goods in 2026 and used default emission values for the calculation, it is worth revisiting your figures. The European Commission has corrected part of the previously published values. What is more, the change does not apply from August, but retroactively, from January 1, 2026.

ImportExport.hu Szerkesztőség

2026. augusztus 10.•7min

Ecuadorian bananas, cocoa, flowers and processed food can be found in numerous Hungarian shops, yet the direct bilateral trade statistics do not fully reflect this presence. The discrepancy is not a statistical error but a result of how the European trade and logistics system works. The real question is when a direct relationship with Ecuador brings genuine value to Hungarian businesses.

Botond Barabás

2026. augusztus 3.•9min

Applications for the participation opportunity announced by the Taipei Representative Office in Hungary can be submitted until July 31. Only a short time remains for Hungarian businesses, government bodies and innovation stakeholders who wish to take part in the Taiwan Innotech Expo 2026.

Botond Barabás

2026. július 29.•4min

In 2025, Vietnam attracted USD 38.42 billion in foreign direct investment, while accumulated FDI stock exceeded USD 529 billion. Behind these numbers lies not a single cost advantage, but a deliberately built economic model: export-oriented industry, an extensive free trade network, developed infrastructure and an increasingly selective investment policy.

Botond Barabás

2026. július 28.•8min

For a long time, Vietnam featured on the map of international companies mainly as a cost-efficient manufacturing location. Today, however, it plays a far more complex role. Thanks to its fast-growing domestic market, extensive network of free trade agreements, strong manufacturing sector and deliberate investment-promotion policy, it is increasingly seen as a regional production, export and technology hub.

Botond Barabás

2026. július 8.•8min

The short answer often given for the shipping time of a container from Vietnam to Hungary is roughly five to six weeks. That, however, is at best a rough estimate. The actual transit time depends on where the goods are loaded in Vietnam, the port of departure, the number of transshipments, the European point of entry, the carrier's routing, and how customs clearance and domestic delivery are organized. A well-planned FCL shipment can arrive in as little as 40–50 days, while under unfavorable conditions the entire process can stretch beyond 60 days.

Botond Barabás

2026. július 8.•7min

While global trade continues to face geopolitical tensions, rising logistics costs and increasing market uncertainty, Ecuador's export sector is undergoing a remarkable structural transformation. According to FEDEXPOR's April 2026 foreign trade report, the country has achieved a historic milestone in its non-oil foreign trade balance.

Botond Barabás

2026. június 30.•7min

Significant changes are coming to the customs handling of low-value consignments arriving from outside the European Union. As part of the EU customs reform, from 1 July 2026 a €3 customs fee per line item will be introduced, while several long-standing simplifications will also be abolished.

Botond Barabás

2026. június 17.•8min

Kazakhstan's wheat production is expected to return to earlier, more average levels, which may also constrain export opportunities. The change is particularly interesting from the perspective of the Italian market, where growing volumes of Kazakh wheat and durum wheat have appeared in recent years.

Botond Barabás

2026. június 17.•6min

In recent years, many companies have begun rethinking their China-dependent procurement strategies. Geopolitical tensions, growing tariff risks, and the vulnerability of global supply chains have prompted many to seek alternative markets. The question today is no longer whether China can be replaced, but what level of risk makes it still worth building on.

Botond Barabás

2026. június 17.•8min

The European Commission is preparing new steel import regulations that could significantly reshape the EU steel market. The proposal would raise the additional duty on imports above the quota to 50%, while requirements for proving origin are also set to tighten.

Botond Barabás

2026. június 16.•9min

CMR insurance, BÁF, cargo insurance, freight forwarder liability insurance – the terms are frequently confused, while they cover entirely different risks and liability situations. It is often only after a loss event that it emerges that the parties had different understandings of what "insurance" meant.

Botond Barabás

2026. május 21.•14min

Most service provider selection processes ultimately reduce to a single question: who gives the best price? The problem is that the true value of a service is rarely visible in the fee. Operational stability, response time, and the quality of problem-handling often only become apparent when something goes wrong.

Botond Barabás

2026. május 21.•11min

As of 14 May 2026, the government decree restricting imports of Ukrainian agricultural products has ceased to apply. However, the notification obligation to Nébih (the National Food Chain Safety Office) remains in force at the level of statute.

Mihály Beke

2026. május 16.•9min

A strengthening forint may appear to be a favourable economic development, particularly for consumers and importers. For export-oriented Hungarian companies, however, rapid exchange rate movements can cause serious revenue, profitability, and competitiveness pressure.

Botond Barabás

2026. május 7.•6min

International trade has entered a new era. For exporters, it is no longer sufficient to ship goods lawfully: they must also demonstrate that they have done everything to prevent the circumvention of sanctions. A single missing contractual clause can today pose a serious customs and reputational risk.

Botond Barabás

2026. május 7.•9min

New EU and domestic export control regulations no longer examine only the movement of goods but the entire commercial and logistics chain. Companies must operate documented risk-reduction and partner due-diligence systems to comply with sanctions requirements.

Botond Barabás

2026. május 6.•12min

The NAV's new digital authorisation system fundamentally changes how representation rights are managed. Authorisation today is no longer a simple document, but a digital entitlement that operates as a real-time, auditable, multi-party process.

Botond Barabás

2026. május 6.•8min

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is introducing a new CAPE system to handle IEEPA duty refunds. The digitised process promises faster and more transparent administration, while the importance of accurate data management and customs compliance remains paramount.

Botond Barabás

2026. május 6.•8min

In sea freight, the ETA is not a guarantee but a probabilistic figure. The case of a Hungarian importer clearly illustrates how misinterpreting transit time can lead to penalty clauses, emergency air freight, and liquidity pressure. International supply chains today are no longer merely an operational matter, but a strategic risk management decision.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 17.•8min

When problems arise in international procurement, the instinctive response is often to blame the supplier. Delay, quality deviation, documentation error – the fault appears to be "outside." In practice, however, many procurement risks actually originate from the company's own operations.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 13.•9min

International procurement is not only a question of price and logistics costs – it is also a currency risk decision. With a multi-month lead time on an import transaction, exchange rate movements can easily wipe out the entire margin. The deliberate business leader does not gamble but manages currency exposure at a systemic level.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 12.•9min

Export is not a linear extension of domestic sales. At low volumes, export not only recoups slowly – it often never becomes economically viable. Low volume is not a problem in itself, but under certain conditions it carries disproportionately high risk.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 10.•8min

Successful Hungarian exporters are not successful because they offer a better deal, but because they operate differently. Export is not a sales trick but a question of organisational functioning.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 10.•8min

A local partner is not a universal solution in export. Poorly chosen, it can become one of the most costly export mistakes. The question is not whether you need a local partner, but when, why, and in what form.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 10.•8min

Interest in exporting alone does not mean export readiness. The following six-point self-assessment model helps you objectively evaluate where your company stands today, and which areas require further preparation.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 10.•9min

Many Hungarian companies fail in foreign markets not because their product is poor, but because they enter too early or under the wrong circumstances. The costs of poor timing are often invisible.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 10.•7min

In export markets, price competition is one of the deepest dead ends. A significant portion of Hungarian companies instinctively choose this path. But is it worthwhile – and if not, what is the working alternative?

Botond Barabás

2026. február 10.•8min

One of the most critical strategic questions when entering an export market is not what you sell, but how. Bringing in a distributor or building your own sales team represents fundamentally different cost, risk, and growth trajectories.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 10.•8min

Most Hungarian companies fail in export markets not because their product is poor, but because they do not treat export sales as a system. We present 7 typical mistakes Hungarian companies make in their export activities.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 10.•7min

Discussions about the risks of international procurement usually focus on customs, shipping, and exchange rates. These are indeed important factors. But there are import risks that are less obvious yet can cause serious losses in the long run, because they quietly embed themselves into everyday operations.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 10.•9min

In international sourcing, the question is no longer where manufacturing costs are lowest. China, Turkey, and India represent different cost levels, logistics distances, risk profiles, and business cultures. The right decision is not about choosing a country, but choosing an operating model.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 3.•10min

A low manufacturer price can seem convincing in an international procurement. However, the final cost rarely matches the figure quoted in the offer. The true price of importing appears in the total landed cost and the hidden operational risks.

Botond Barabás

2026. február 1.•10min

Selecting Incoterms terms often seems like a routine decision when quoting or procuring. Yet a poorly chosen FOB, EXW, or DDP construction can cause not just administrative inconvenience but serious financial loss. The additional cost is often not immediately visible – but all the more painful when it appears.

Botond Barabás

2026. január 27.•10min

For years, just-in-time was synonymous with efficient inventory management. Minimum stock, precise delivery, optimised cash flow – that's how it was taught. But in today's geopolitically and logistically uncertain world, does this model still work, or is it merely a risky illusion?

Botond Barabás

2026. január 27.•9min

A price quoted in an international offer cannot be interpreted without the applicable Incoterms term. FOB, CIF, or DDP constructions represent different allocations of cost and risk that directly affect the Total Landed Cost. The question is not which price is lower, but what it actually includes.

Botond Barabás

2026. január 27.•8min

Incoterms rules define the allocation of risk and costs between seller and buyer. This article introduces each term and helps you choose the right one for your situation.

Mihály Beke

2026. január 15.•15min

Sea freight is the backbone of international trade. This article introduces the basics of ocean shipping, container types, and how to calculate costs.

Mihály Beke

2026. január 15.•11min

The European Union and Hungary have amended numerous customs regulations from January 2026. We have compiled the most important changes that may affect import and export activities.

Mihály Beke

2026. január 15.•6min

Starting to export is a great opportunity for growth, but it comes with many pitfalls. This comprehensive guide shows how to begin export activities, what documents are needed, and how to find target markets.

Mihály Beke

2026. január 15.•4min

The European Union and Hungary offer numerous support programs for small and medium-sized enterprises looking to start or expand exports. We have compiled the most important opportunities.

Mihály Beke

2026. január 15.•8min

Importing from China remains popular, but comes with significant challenges. We outline the most common problems and their solutions.

Mihály Beke

2026. január 15.•10min