The exports of goods were at a record level in October

News
Posted on 10 December 2014, 10:00

According to Statistics Estonia, in October 2014, both the exports and imports of goods increased by 5% at current prices compared to October of the previous year. The increase in exports and imports was mostly influenced by the trade of electrical equipment and mineral products.

In October, exports from Estonia amounted to 1.2 billion euros and imports to Estonia to 1.3 billion euros at current prices. So far, the biggest exports turnover had been registered in November 2012, but this October exports turnover exceeded it by 2.5 million euros.  The trade deficit was 144 million euros and it increased by 6 million euros compared to October 2013.

The biggest share in Estonia’s exports was held by electrical equipment (23% of Estonia’s total exports), followed by mineral products (12%) and agricultural products and food preparations (11%). The increase in exports compared to October 2013 was due to a significant increase in the exports of electrical equipment and mineral products (both up by 47 million euros), raw materials and products of chemical industry, and metals and products thereof (both up by 5 million euros). The biggest decrease occurred in the exports of agricultural products and food preparations and mechanical appliances (both down by 12 million euros).

In October, the main commodities imported were electrical equipment (21% of Estonia’s total imports), mineral products (13%) and agricultural products and food preparations (10%). Compared to October 2013, the biggest increase occurred in the imports of electrical equipment (up by 66 million euros), mineral products (up by 47 million euros), raw materials and products of the chemical industry (up by 20 million euros). At the same time, the imports of transport equipment decreased the most (down by 38 million euros).

The top destination country of Estonia’s exports in October was Sweden (18% of Estonia’s total exports), followed by Finland (14%) and Latvia (10%). Electrical equipment and wood and products thereof were the main commodities exported to Sweden; electrical equipment and metals and products thereof were the main commodities exported to Finland; mineral products and agricultural products and food preparations were the main commodities exported to Latvia. The biggest increase occurred in exports to Sweden (up by 32 million euros), the Netherlands (up by 20 million euros) and the USA (up by 18 million euros). In exports to Sweden, the increase was the highest in the dispatches of electrical equipment and in exports to the Netherlands in the dispatches of mineral products (incl. shale-derived fuel oil). In exports to the USA, there was an increase in the dispatches of mineral products (incl. motor fuel) and electrical equipment. Compared to October 2013, the decrease was the biggest in the exports of mechanical appliances (incl. shovel loaders, excavators) and agricultural products and food preparations (incl. spirits, cheese, milk and cream) to Russia.

The main countries of consignment in October were Finland (15% of Estonia’s total imports), Sweden (11%) and Germany (10%). The main commodities imported were mineral products and electrical equipment from Finland, electrical equipment and transport equipment from Sweden, and mechanical appliances and transport equipment from Germany. Compared to October 2013, there was an increase in imports from Sweden (up by 28 million euros), the Netherlands (up by 18 million euros) and China (up by 17 million euros). There were increased imports of electrical equipment and transport equipment from Sweden, and increased imports of raw materials and products of the chemical industry from the Netherlands and electrical equipment from China. Imports decreased the most from Latvia, with less agricultural products and food preparations imported.

In October compared to September 2014, exports and imports increased both by 5%.
Estonia’s foreign trade, January–October, 2013–2014
Month Exports, million euros Imports, million euros Balance, million euros
2013 2014 change, % 2013 2014 change, % 2013 2014
TOTAL 10 341.0 10 096.1 -2 11 623.3 11 420.9 -2 -1 282.1 -1 324.8
January 1 129.3 906.2 -20 1 163.4 1 012.5 -13 -34.1 -106.3
February 960.7 921.4 -4 1 081.7 1 039.1 -4 -121.0 -117.7
March 1 006.8 1 020.7 1 1 143.9 1 187.6 4 -137.1 -166.9
April 1 081.7 1 026.8 -5 1 227.4 1 165.6 -5 -145.7 -138.8
May 1 115.7 1 014.3 -9 1 205.8 1 140.0 -5 -90.1 -125.7
June 973.8 981.7 1 1 160.9 1 134.5 -2 -187.0 -152.7
July 941.9 992.7 5 1 146.7 1 139.3 -1 -204.8 -146.6
August 1 001.6 969.5 -3 1 112.7 1 061.2 -5 -111.0 -91.7
September 1 031.6 1 106.3 7 1 144.8 1 241.0 8 -113.2 -134.8
October 1 097.9 1 156.4 5 1 236.0 1 300.1 5 -138.1 -143.7
Main foreign trade partners of Estonia, October 2014
Country of
destination,
group of countries
Exports,
million
euros
Share, % Change compared
to same month of
previous year, %
Country of
consignment,
group of countries
Imports,
million
euros
Share, % Change compared
to same month of
previous year, %
TOTAL 1 156.4 100 5 TOTAL 1 300.1 100 5
EU-28 820.6 71 6 EU-28 1 079.2 83 3
EA18 457.5 40 1 EA18 629.8 48 2
CIS 119.8 10 -30 CIS 88.9 7 7
1. Sweden 209.7 18 18 1. Finland 190.9 15 0
2. Finland 164.0 14 -6 2. Sweden 144.6 11 24
3. Latvia 110.0 10 -10 3. Germany 136.4 10 -4
4. Russia 100.8 9 -31 4. Latvia 111.0 9 -12
5. Germany 61.1 5 15 5. Lithuania 109.2 8 7
6. Lithuania 59.0 5 2 6. Poland 105.0 8 -7
7. Norway 45.5 4 21 7. Russia 72.3 6 15
8. USA 42.2 4 77 8. Netherlands 57.4 4 44
9. Nederland 39.0 3 110 9. China 52.6 4 49
10. Denmark 27.7 2 -1 10. France 35.8 3 37
Exports and imports by commodity sections, October 2014
Commodity section
(chapter) by Combined
Nomenclature (CN)
Exports Imports Balance,
million
euros
million
euros
share, % change compared
to same period of
previous year, %
million
euros
share, % change compared
to same period of
previous year, %
TOTAL 1 156.4 100 5 1 300.1 100 5 -143.7
Agricultural products and food preparations (I–IV) 123.2 11 -9 133.2 10 -9 -9.9
Mineral products (V) 140.8 12 50 163.2 13 40 -22.4
Raw materials and products of chemical industry (VI) 58.1 5 10 114.3 9 22 -56.1
Articles of plastics and rubber (VII) 38.2 3 -6 70.4 5 2 -32.2
Wood and products thereof (IX) 103.1 9 5 36.7 3 6 66.4
Paper and articles thereof (X) 29.6 3 6 24.7 2 -4 4.9
Textiles and products thereof (XI) 31.9 3 -20 61.0 5 4 -29.0
Metals and products thereof (XV) 86.5 7 6 97.1 7 -3 -10.6
Mechanical appliances (84) 79.1 7 -13 105.6 8 -14 -26.5
Electrical equipment (85) 260.3 23 22 267.1 21 33 -6.8
Transport equipment (XVII) 56.5 5 -13 111.9 9 -25 -55.4
Miscellaneous manufactured articles (XX) 82.6 7 0 33.6 3 5 48.9
Other 66.5 5 -12 81.3 5 -5 -15.0