In January, exports growth continued

In January, exports from Estonia amounted to 1.16 billion euros and imports to Estonia to 1.28 billion euros. The trade deficit was 119 million euros, which was 99 million euros less than in the same period last year.

In January, the top destination countries of Estonia’s exports were Finland (16% of Estonia’s total exports), Sweden and Latvia (both 10%). Electrical equipment and base metals and articles of base metal were the main commodities exported to Finland; wood and articles of wood and electrical equipment to Sweden; mineral products, and agricultural products and food preparations to Latvia. The biggest increase occurred in exports to the USA (up by 66 million euros), Singapore (up by 30 million euros) and Denmark (up by 18 million euros). In exports to the USA, there was an increase in the exports of data communication equipment, and to Singapore and Denmark, in the exports of mineral products. The biggest decrease occurred in exports to the Netherlands (down by 34 million euros), where less mineral products were dispatched.

The biggest share in exports was held by electrical equipment (17% of Estonia’s total exports), followed by mineral products (14%), and wood and articles of wood (11%). The greatest increase was in the exports of mineral products (up by 37 million euros), electrical equipment (up by 25 million euros), mechanical appliances and wood and articles of wood (both up by 19 million euros).

The share of goods of Estonian origin in total exports was 73% in January. The exports of goods of Estonian origin grew by 11% and re-exports by 14%. In the exports of goods of Estonian origin, the biggest growth was in the exports of electrical equipment (data communication equipment, electrical cabinets), wood and articles of wood (wood pellets, glue-laminated timber, coniferous sawn timber) and mineral products (shale oil, electricity).

The main countries of consignment in January were Finland (12% of Estonia’s total imports), Lithuania (11%) and Germany (10%). Mineral products and electrical equipment were the main commodities imported from Finland, while from Lithuania, these were mineral products, and from Germany, transport equipment and mechanical appliances. Imports increased the most from Lithuania (up by 47 million euros) and China (up by 13 million euros). Mineral products were imported more from Lithuania and electrical equipment from China. Imports decreased the most from the Netherlands.

The main commodities imported to Estonia were mineral products (16% of Estonia’s total imports), electrical equipment (14%), and transport equipment (10%). The biggest increase was in the imports of mineral products (up by 34 million euros) and raw materials and products of chemical industry (up by 11 million euros).

In January 2019, compared to January 2018, the foreign trade export volume index increased by 5% and the import volume index stayed at the same level.

Estonia’s foreign trade by month, 2018–2019

Month	Exports, million euros			Imports, million euros			Balance, million euros
	2018	2019	change, %	2018	2019	change, %	2017	2018
January	1,035	1,156	12	1,253	1,275	2	-218	-119

Main foreign trade partners of Estonia, January 2019

Country of destination, group of countries	Exports, million euros	Share, %	Change on same month of previous year, %	Country of consignment, group of countries	Imports, million euros	Share, %	Change on same month of previous year, %
TOTAL	1,156	100	12	TOTAL	1,275	100	2
EU-28	817	71	5	EU-28	987	77	1
Euro area 19	569	49	7	Euro area 19	711	56	0
Non-EU	339	29	31	Non-EU	289	23	4
1. Finland	190	16	9	1. Finland	157	12	-3
2. Sweden	121	10	-7	2. Lithuania	143	11	48
3. Latvia	114	10	16	3. Germany	131	10	0
4. USA	99	9	-	4. Sweden	119	9	8
5. Germany	86	7	21	5. Latvia	115	9	3
6. Lithuania	61	5	-4	6. Russia	91	7	7
7. Denmark	53	5	51	7. Poland	81	6	6
8. Russia	49	4	-7	8. China	64	5	24
9. Norway	42	4	3	9. Netherlands	50	4	-38
10. Singapore	31	3	-	10. Belarus	47	4	-1

Exports and imports by commodity section, January 2019

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	100	12	1,275	100	2	-119
Agricultural products and food preparations (I–IV)	86	7	3	118	9	-2	-32
Mineral products (V)	157	14	31	204	16	20	-47
Raw materials and products of chemical industry (VI)	62	5	32	116	9	11	-54
Articles of plastics and rubber (VII)	35	3	5	67	5	6	-32
Wood and articles of wood (IX)	132	11	17	42	3	2	90
Paper and articles thereof (X)	31	3	0	22	2	0	9
Textiles and textile articles (XI)	33	3	-1	57	5	3	-25
Base metals and articles of base metal (XV)	89	8	13	112	9	3	-23
Mechanical appliances (84)	101	9	24	120	9	-4	-19
Electrical equipment (85)	197	17	15	180	14	-7	16
Transport equipment (XVII)	68	6	-4	124	10	-8	-56
Optical, measuring, precision instruments (XVIII)	34	3	-13	31	2	-5	3
Miscellaneous manufactured articles (XX)	93	8	0	32	3	5	62
Other	38	3	-2	51	4	-4	-13

The statistics are based on the questionnaires “Intrastat” and “Exports (sale of fish and crustaceans in foreign waters and ports)”, the due dates of which were, respectively, 14 and 15 February 2019, and on the customs declaration data of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, which were sent to Statistics Estonia on 20 February 2019. Statistics Estonia published the monthly summary of foreign trade in 12 working days. In the case of the statistical activity “Foreign trade”, the main representative of public interest is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, commissioned by whom Statistics Estonia collects and analyses the data necessary for conducting the statistical activity.