In July, the share of goods of Estonian origin was the lowest in recent years
According to Statistics Estonia, in July 2019, compared to July 2018, the exports of goods decreased by 2% and imports increased by 5%. The share of goods of Estonian origin was the lowest in recent years—66% of total exports.
In July, exports from Estonia amounted to 1.2 billion euros and imports to Estonia to 1.4 billion euros at current prices. The exports of mineral products (shale oil, motor spirit, fuel additives) decreased by nearly half, but the decline was offset by increased exports in other commodity groups. The trade deficit was 211 million euros, which was 88 million euros more than in the same period last year.
In July, the top destination countries of Estonia’s exports were Finland (16% of Estonia’s total exports), Latvia (10%) and Sweden (9%). Electrical equipment and base metals and articles of base metal were the main commodities exported to Finland; mineral products (fuel additives, electricity), agricultural products and food preparations (milk, beer) to Latvia; miscellaneous manufactured articles (prefabricated wood buildings) and wood and articles of wood (pulpwood, sawn timber) to Sweden. The biggest decrease occurred in exports of mineral products to Saudi Arabia (down by 46 million euros). The biggest increase occurred in exports to Lithuania (up by 22 million euros), Denmark (up by 19 million euros) and Latvia (up by 16 million euros). The biggest increase in exports to Lithuania was in transport equipment (cars); and to Denmark and Latvia in exports of mineral products.
The biggest share in exports of goods was held by electrical equipment (15% of Estonia’s total exports), followed by mineral products (12%) and mechanical appliances (10%). The biggest impact on the decline in exports came from mineral products (down by 125 million euros). The biggest increases were in exports of transport equipment (up by 26 million euros) and mechanical appliances (up by 26 million euros).
The exports of goods of Estonian origin decreased by 10% compared to July 2018, while re-exports increased by 16%. In the exports of goods of Estonian origin, the biggest decrease was in the exports of mineral products and the biggest increase was in mechanical appliances and miscellaneous manufactured articles.
In July, the main countries of consignment were Finland (13% of Estonia’s total imports), Germany (11%), Lithuania and Russia (both 10%). The main commodities imported were: mineral products and base metals, and articles of base metal from Finland; transport equipment and mechanical appliances from Germany; mineral products, agricultural products and food preparations from Lithuania; and mineral products from Russia. Imports increased the most from Russia (up by 25 million euros), Sweden (up by 22 million euros) and from Finland (up by 20 million euros). From Russia, imports of mechanical appliances, from Sweden of transport equipment, and from Finland of mineral products increased the most. Imports decreased the most from Belarus (down by 28 million euros), due to a decrease in the imports of mineral products (motor spirit, heavy oil).
The main commodities imported to Estonia were mineral products (13% of Estonia’s total imports), transport equipment and electrical equipment (both 12%). The biggest increase was in the imports of transport equipment, and base metals and articles of base metal (both up by 27 million euros) and the biggest decrease in the imports of mineral products (down by 22 million euros).
| 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 | 1,165 | 100 | -2 | TOTAL | 1,376 | 100 | 5 |
| EU-28 | 813 | 70 | 7 | EU-28 | 1,071 | 78 | 6 |
| Euro area 19 | 577 | 50 | 8 | Euro area 19 | 767 | 56 | 4 |
| Non-EU | 352 | 30 | -19 | Non-EU | 305 | 22 | 0 |
| 1. Finland | 189 | 16 | -1 | 1. Finland | 182 | 13 | 12 |
| 2. Latvia | 119 | 10 | 16 | 2. Germany | 142 | 10 | -5 |
| 3. Sweden | 107 | 9 | 4 | 3. Lithuania | 132 | 10 | 5 |
| 4. Lithuania | 87 | 7 | 34 | 4. Russia | 132 | 10 | 23 |
| 5. USA | 85 | 7 | 9 | 5. Sweden | 125 | 9 | 21 |
| 6. Russia | 82 | 7 | 15 | 6. Latvia | 109 | 8 | -1 |
| 7. Germany | 71 | 6 | 8 | 7. Poland | 87 | 6 | 10 |
| 8. Denmark | 55 | 5 | 54 | 8. China | 51 | 4 | -5 |
| 9. Norway | 36 | 3 | -7 | 9. Netherlands | 50 | 4 | -24 |
| 10. Netherlands | 29 | 3 | 2 | 10. Italy | 37 | 3 | 13 |
| 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 | 1,165 | 100 | -2 | 1,376 | 100 | 5 | -211 |
| Agricultural products and food preparations (I–IV) | 98 | 9 | 11 | 135 | 10 | 6 | -37 |
| Mineral products (V) | 140 | 12 | -47 | 178 | 13 | -11 | -38 |
| Raw materials and products of chemical industry (VI) | 63 | 5 | 7 | 123 | 9 | 12 | -60 |
| Articles of plastics and rubber (VII) | 37 | 3 | 10 | 77 | 6 | 11 | -40 |
| Wood and articles of wood (IX) | 109 | 9 | 5 | 47 | 3 | 8 | 62 |
| Paper and articles thereof (X) | 26 | 2 | -13 | 23 | 2 | 12 | 2 |
| Textiles and textile articles (XI) | 29 | 3 | -5 | 56 | 4 | 8 | -27 |
| Base metals and articles of base metal (XV) | 102 | 9 | 11 | 148 | 11 | 22 | -46 |
| Mechanical appliances (84) | 115 | 10 | 29 | 144 | 10 | -1 | -30 |
| Electrical equipment (85) | 176 | 15 | 2 | 160 | 12 | -9 | 16 |
| Transport equipment (XVII) | 96 | 8 | 37 | 164 | 12 | 20 | -68 |
| Optical, measuring, precision instruments (XVIII) | 38 | 3 | 8 | 28 | 2 | -3 | 10 |
| Miscellaneous manufactured articles (XX) | 92 | 8 | 10 | 34 | 2 | 13 | 58 |
| Other | 45 | 4 | 13 | 58 | 4 | 11 | -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 July 2019, and on the customs declaration data of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, which were sent to Statistics Estonia on 21 July 2019. Statistics Estonia published the monthly summary of foreign trade in 13 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.