Exports of services exceeded imports by one billion euros for the first time

Jane Leppmets, foreign trade analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that, last year, the surplus of foreign trade in services was 600 to 900 million euros each quarter, while in the second quarter this year the surplus of foreign trade in services was over one billion euros for the first time. “The main contributor to this surplus was telecommunications, computer and information services, where exports were 416 million euros higher than imports. About 20% of these services were supplied to the USA and nearly 15% to the United Kingdom. The surplus in foreign trade in services was also boosted by other business services, with exports exceeding imports by 215 million euros,” explained Leppmets.

Exports of other business services grew the most

In the second quarter, the top services exported were other business services (incl. other business support services, advertising and management services) for 1.2 billion euros. This was followed by exports of telecommunications, computer and information services (incl. computer programming and consultancy) for 916 million euros, and exports of transport services (incl. road freight transport) for 655 million euros. Compared with the second quarter of 2025, the biggest increase occurred in the exports of other business services (incl. advertising services and other business support services) – up by 163 million euros The biggest decline was registered in the exports of processing services (incl. processing services of other transport equipment), which declined by 50 million euros.

The main partner countries for Estonia’s exports of services were Finland (14% of total exports), the USA (8%) and Germany (8%). The main services supplied to Finland were travel services. Telecommunications, computer and information services were the most exported service to the United States, and transport services were the biggest export item to Germany. Compared with the second quarter of 2025, the biggest rise was recorded in exports of services to Cyprus (up by 38 million euros, or 56%) due to the increased supply of other business services. The biggest fall was seen in exports of services to Germany (down by 40 million euros, or 13%), as there were fewer exports of processing services.

Imports of other business services from Ireland showed the biggest growth

The most imported services in the second quarter were other business services (incl. other business support services, management and advertising services) for 995 million euros, followed by transport services (incl. road and sea freight transport) for 613 million euros, and telecommunications, computer and information services (incl. computer programming and consultancy) for 500 million euros. Compared with the second quarter of 2025, the biggest rise – by 89 million euros – was recorded in the imports of other business services (incl. other business support services). The imports of transport services (incl. rental of air transport vehicle with crew, and services incidental to rail transport) declined the most – by 68 million euros.

The top partner countries for imports of services were Lithuania, Finland, Germany and Ireland, with each of these accounting for 7% of total services imports. Other business services were the top category of services purchased from these countries in the second quarter. The biggest rise was recorded in imports of services from Ireland (up by 38 million euros, or 27%) due to increased purchases of other business services. Imports of services from the United Kingdom decreased the most (down by 58 million euros, or 30%) due to fewer purchases of telecommunications, computer and information services.

Statistics Estonia collects and analyses the data on foreign trade in services in cooperation with Eesti Pank, as commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, with the aim to determine how exporting and importing enterprises are performing in Estonia.

Data as at 2 September 2026 are published. The indicator values may change if there are any revisions made in the data sources after this date.

See also the foreign trade section on our website.

More detailed data have been published in the statistical database. Due to rounding, the sum of rows in some tables may differ from the sum total of the column.

When using Statistics Estonia’s data and graphs, please indicate the source.

For further information:

Annaliisa Köss
Media Relations Partner
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 5696 6484
press [at] stat.ee

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