Distributing a product

Evolution of the sector

Volume of retail trade in Hungary increased by 2.4 percent, down 2.7 percent from 2006.
Retail growth is expected to be around 3.4 percent in 2008. Retail growth is expected to continue to slow further in 2008-2009 due to the central government's austerity measures and higher taxes.

Market shares

Distribution networks for consumer goods are fast developing. Small and medium sized local businesses and especially small independent retailers are losing their market-share to foreign competition. Indeed, international stores are attracted to the country due to the increasing demand by Hungarian consumers for western products. The presence of several foreign groups can thus be noted:
- the Auchan group,
- Tesco,
- the German groups Tengelmann, Baumax and Metro.
The food distribution market also consists of a few big national groups: the leader being CBA.
The main players in the discount business are: Plus (with 156 retail outlets), Penny Market with 143 retail outlets and Lidl with 22 retail outlets.

In the non-food distribution sector, foreign groups dominate especially in the ready to wear sector (C&A, Mango, etc)

Organizations in the retail sector

Országos Kereskedelmi Szövetség - Hungarian Trade association

We can identify professional tradeshows on your sector.

Market access procedures

International Conventions

Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of OECD
Party to the Kyoto protocol
Party to the Washington convention on International trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora
Party to the Basel convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their disposal
Party to the Montreal protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer
Wassenaar arrangement on export controls for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies
Party of the International coffee agreement 2001

Customs duties and taxes on imports

3%

Customs classification

Yes

Import procedures

For goods that are less than 1,000 kg or a worth less than 1,000 EUR a verbal declaration at customs upon presentation of the invoice is sufficient. For values that are superior you need to present at customs the fololwing: a summarizing declaration (air or sea transport) in order to register the goods; a common law declaration (UAD - unique administration document) with all the necessary documents for clearing customs. The UAD documents can be obtained at the chamber of commerce.

As part of the "SAFE" standards advocated by the World Customs Organization (WCO), the European Union has set up a new system of import controls, the "Import Control System" (ICS), which aims to secure the flow of goods at the time of their entry into the customs territory of the EU. This control system, part of the Community Program eCustomer, has been in effect since January 1, 2011. Since then, operators are required to pass an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) to the customs of the country of entry, prior to the introduction of goods into the customs territory of the European Union.

Importing samples

ATA carnet can be used. Please mark that this is a free sample with no commercial value.

For further information

Hungarian Customs and Finance Guard
Ministry for national development and economy

We can indicate you which are the customs duties applied to your product.

We can indicate you which are the customs duties applied to your product.

Find out the local taxes that apply to your product.

Organizing goods transport

Main useful means of transport

Since 1996 and in co-operation with the Trans-European Telecommunication Networks, the Hungarian Ministry of Transport has been following a new transport policy in order to modernize the infrastructure of the country: new highways, new subways, streetcars and buses in big cities and conglomerations. Furthermore, the goods transport sector is mostly privatized.
The current road network covers the North-South and South-North parts of the country. This still needs several modifications to be in accordance with the European standards.
The first toll motorway, connecting Budapest and Vienna, was inaugurated in January 1996. Train is the most used means used for goods transport. Just like road transportation, this sector was privatised. The privatization and concession of the public sector's activities in 1998 accelerated the modernization of the structures to match the European standards.

Ports

Mahart
Information in Hungarian about ports

Airports

Budapest Airport
Pécs-Pogány
Debrecen Airport
Sármellék

Sea transport organizations

Ministry of Transports

Air transport organizations

Ministry of Transports

Road transport organizations

Ministry of Transports

Rail transport organizations

Ministry of Transports

Get a ballpark figure for transportation costs for your product in this country through a shipping estimate

Identifying a supplier

Type of production

Industrial sector represents 32.4% of the GDP.

Business directories

Matav
Yellow Pages
Internet Tudakozó

Manufacturers associations of the main industries

Association of Innoving Pharmaceutical companies

Trade Agencies and their representations abroad

Chamber of Commerce

Enterprises federation

Hungarian Association of Business Assistance
Confederation of Hungarian Employers and Industrialist

Standards

National standards organizations

Hungarian Standards Institution

Integration in the international standards network

Many standards in the EU, thus Hungary are adopted from international standards bodies such as the International Standards Organization.
The drafting of specific EU standards is handled by three European standards organizations: CENELEC, ETSI, CEN.
Hungary is a full member of International Electrotechnical Commission and International Communication Union.

Classification of standards

MSZ: Hungarian Standard
CE: European Standard

Online consultation of standards

Hungarian Standards Institution

Certification organizations

Hungarian Standards Institution

Find out the standards and labelling requirements that apply to your products

Intellectual Property

National organizations

Magyar Szabadalmi Hivatal (Hungarian Patent Office).

Regional organizations

European patent policy
World Intellectual Property Organization

International membership

Member of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
Signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Intellectual Property
Membership to the TRIPS agreement - Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)