The growth in foreign trade in services was mainly driven by imports and exports of other business services

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the supply of services exceeded purchases, resulting in a surplus of 828 million euros in foreign trade in services. In 2025 overall, the balance of foreign trade in services was in surplus by 3.2 billion euros, growing by 204 million euros compared with 2024.

Jane Leppmets, analyst at Statistics Estonia, noted that foreign trade in services continued steady growth. “The growth in 2025 was mainly driven by the increased exports and imports of other business services,” she added. 

The most exported services last year were other business services – these accounted for 31% of all services exports. Under other business services, the highest shares were held by other business support services (44% of exports of other business services), advertising services (17%) and management services (10%). Other business services were followed by exports of telecommunications, computer and information services (25% of total exports) and transport services (19%). 

“In recent years, there have been no major changes among the main trade partners. Last year, the top partner countries for Estonia’s exports of services were Finland, Germany and the United States. In imports, the biggest partners were Lithuania, Finland and Germany,” said Leppmets.

Finland was Estonia’s top export partner in the fourth quarter

In the fourth 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 869 million euros, and exports of transport services (incl. road freight transport) for 646 million euros. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, exports of other business services increased the most (up by 235 million euros). The exports of telecommunications, computer and information services declined the most – by 49 million euros.

The top partner countries for Estonia’s exports of services in the fourth quarter were Finland (14% of total exports), Germany and the United States (8% each). The main services supplied to Finland were travel services. Transport services were the most exported service to Germany, and telecommunications, computer and information services were the biggest export item to the United States. The biggest rise was seen in the supply of services to Cyprus (up by 65 million euros), with increased exports of other business services. The biggest fall was registered in exports of services to Malaysia (down by 13 million euros) and India (down by 12 million euros). There was decreased supply of telecommunications, computer and information services to Malaysia, and fewer exports of transport services to India.

Imports of other business services grew the most

The most imported services in the fourth quarter of 2025 were other business services (incl. other business support services, advertising services and management services) for 992 million euros, followed by transport services (incl. road and sea freight transport) for 636 million euros, and telecommunications, computer and information services (incl. computer programming and consultancy) for 550 million euros. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, the biggest rise occurred in the imports of other business services (up by 120 million euros), while purchases of transport services from non-residents decreased the most (down by 14 million euros).

The top partner countries for Estonia’s imports of services were Lithuania (7% of total imports), Finland (7%) and Germany (6%), with other business services being the top category of services purchased. The biggest rise was recorded in imports of services from Ireland (up by 33 million euros) and Cyprus (up by 28 million euros) due to increased purchases of other business services. Imports of services from Latvia showed the biggest decline (down by 21 million euros), as there were fewer purchases of transport 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 4 March 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:

Susann Kivi
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 5696 6484
press [at] stat.ee

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