Internal trade

Considering the turnover, internal trade is the largest economic activity in Estonia. It covers wholesale and retail trade as well as repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles.

Internal trade is closely connected with other activities – goods that people buy in shops or on the internet come from factories, craftsmen and farmers. The goods are carried by transport enterprises. Consumption of products made in Estonia supports local business, and also means that the goods are delivered to consumers in the most cost-effective way.

Statistics Estonia publishes the following data for trade enterprises:

  • turnover;
  • turnover volume index;
  • retail sales;
  • retail sales volume index;
  • sales of wholesale enterprises;
  • trade margin;
  • costs;
  • profits;
  • assets;
  • liabilities;
  • equity capital;
  • investments;
  • value added;
  • productivity indicators.

The data of internal trade help to assess how trade enterprises are doing and the impact of the largest economic activity on the whole economy. By analysing data, the heads of trade enterprises can make more informed sales and management decisions, assess their competitiveness on the market, choose pricing principles and react to changing market conditions.

Change in turnover volume index of retail trade enterprises compared to previous period -0.5 %
JULY 2025
Change in turnover volume index of retail trade enterprises compared to the corresponding period in previous year 0.7 %
JULY 2025
Change in turnover volume index of wholesale trade enterprises compared to previous period 0.4 %
109.8%
JULY 2025
Change in turnover volume index of wholesale trade enterprises compared to the corresponding period in previous year 3.0 %
-70.9%
JULY 2025
Net sales of trade enterprises 8.50 billion euros
6.8%
Q2 2025
Retail sales of trade enterprises 2.77 billion euros
4.8%
Q2 2025
Wholesale sales and wholesale on a fee or contract basis of trade enterprises 5.48 billion euros
8.9%
Q2 2025
Retail sales volume index change compared to previous period 13.8 %
Q2 2025
Retail sales volume index change compared to same period in previous year 4.4 %
Q2 2025
Change in turnover volume indices of retail trade enterprises | August 2020 – July 2025
Change in turnover volume indices of wholesale trade enterprises | January 2021 – July 2025
Net sales of trade enterprises by quarter | 3rd quarter 2016 – 2nd quarter 2025
Assets, liabilities and trade margin of trade enterprises by economic activity, quarters | 2nd quarter 2024 – 2nd quarter 2025
2nd quarter 2024 3rd quarter 2024 4th quarter 2024 1st quarter 2025 2nd quarter 2025
Average quarterly number of persons employed 89,965.0 89,995.0 93,359.0 87,548.0 88,604.0
Turnover, million euros 7,958.4 7,902.9 8,401.5 7,436.6 8,503.1
Retail sales, million euros 2,644.4 2,619.4 2,850.4 2,413.0 2,770.3
Wholesale sales and wholesale on a fee or contract basis, million euros 5,028.3 5,008.3 5,244.8 4,784.8 5,475.8
Costs total, million euros 7,649.8 7,634.0 8,096.8 7,370.7 8,260.8
Trade margin, % 21.0 21.0 21.0 18.0 19.0
Selling time of goods inventories, days 39.0 41.0 39.0 43.0 39.0

Retail sales volume index change compared to previous period, quarters | 2nd quarter 2024 – 2nd quarter 2025
Unit: %
2nd quarter 2024 3rd quarter 2024 4th quarter 2024 1st quarter 2025 2nd quarter 2025
Commodities total 12.5 -0.5 9.1 -15.4 13.8
Food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products 9.4 -1.8 1.4 -10.3 9.2
Food 5.7 -2.0 1.4 -8.7 7.1
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products 22.3 -1.1 1.3 -15.0 16.1
Manufactured goods 14.3 0.1 13.2 -17.9 16.3
Clothing, woven materials, footwear 15.5 6.7 0.2 -21.0 24.3
Motor vehicles, their parts and accessories and automotive fuel 13.6 -2.9 13.1 -15.0 10.4
Other goods 14.4 1.0 15.5 -19.0 18.4

Retail sales volume index change compared to same period in previous year, quarters | 2nd quarter 2024 – 2nd quarter 2025
Unit: %
2nd quarter 2024 3rd quarter 2024 4th quarter 2024 1st quarter 2025 2nd quarter 2025
Commodities total -3.4 -2.8 4.3 3.3 4.4
Food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products -1.6 -4.1 -2.1 -2.2 -2.5
Food -1.8 -3.4 -3.0 -4.0 -2.7
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products -1.7 -6.5 0.4 4.2 -1.1
Manufactured goods -4.3 -2.2 7.6 6.3 8.2
Clothing, woven materials, footwear -12.8 -1.9 -8.2 -2.5 5.0
Motor vehicles, their parts and accessories and automotive fuel -0.6 -0.4 13.7 6.0 3.0
Other goods -4.8 -3.0 7.3 8.0 11.8

News

Retail trade volume up by 5% in June

According to Statistics Estonia, in June 2025, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was €928 million. Compared with June last year, the volume of retail trade turnover increased by 5%.

Read more 31. July 2025
News

Retail trade volume up by 2% in May

According to Statistics Estonia, in May 2025, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was €924 million. Compared with May last year, the volume of retail trade turnover increased by 2%.

Read more 30. June 2025