In the previous year the growth in exports and imports was driven by machinery and equipment

News
Posted on 25 February 2011, 10:00

According to Statistics Estonia, in 2010 the exports of goods at current prices increased 35% and imports 27% compared to 2009. In the last months of the year the growth in the trade accelerated as dispatches and arrivals of machinery and equipment increased the most.

In 2010 the value of exports of goods from Estonia made up 8.7 billion euros and imports to Estonia amounted to 9.2 billion euros. The trade deficit was announced as 0.5 billion euros, which was smaller than in the previous year (the trade deficit was 0.8 billion euros in 2009).

Estonia’s foreign trade, January–December, 2009–2010
Month Exports,
million euros
Imports,
million euros
Balance,
million euros
2009 2010 change, %  2009 2010 change, % 2009 2010
Total 6 481 8 747 35 7 272 9 245 27 -791 -498
January 465 519 12 566 544 -4 -101 -25
February 500 629 26 561 609 9 -61 20
March 533 629 18 628 803 28 -95 -174
April 494 680 38 600 697 16 -106 -17
May 522 730 40 547 791 45 -25 -61
June 610 664 9 627 756 21 -17 -92
July 527 698 32 604 733 21 -77 -35
August 519 713 37 584 767 31 -65 -54
September 603 846 40 636 849 33 -33 -3
October 572 846 48 617 857 39 -45 -11
November 582 868 49 654 905 38 -72 -37
December 554 927 67 649 934 44 -95 -7

In 2010, in exports, among the commodity sections the first place was held by the section of machinery and equipment (23% of Estonia’s total exports), followed by mineral products (16%) and agricultural products and food preparations (10%). Compared to 2009, there was a significant increase in exports of machinery and equipment (by 56% or 0.7 billion euros). Also there was an increase in exports of mineral products (incl. petrol, fuel oils and electricity) and of wood and products thereof.

In 2010, in imports, the first place was also held by machinery and equipment (24% of the total imports), followed by mineral products (17%) and agricultural products and food preparations (11%). The turnover of imports increased among all commodity sections, the most in the imports of machinery and equipment (by 55% or 0.8 billion euros) and of metals and products thereof (by 0.3 billion euros).

The main countries of destination were Finland (17% of Estonia’s total exports), Sweden (16%) and Russia (10%). Exports increased to all main countries of destination, the most to Sweden and Finland (by 0.6 and 0.3 billion euros, respectively).

The main countries of consignment were Finland (15% of Estonia’s total imports), Germany and Sweden (11% both countries). In 2010, imports increased the most from Sweden (by 0.4 billion euros), Finland and Germany (by 0.3 billion euros from both countries).

The biggest trade deficit was mentioned in the trade of raw materials and products of chemical industry (0.3 billion euros). The biggest surplus was mentioned in the trade of wood and products thereof and miscellaneous industrial goods (incl. furniture) (0.5 billion euros both).

In December 2010, the value of exports of goods was 927 million euros and of imports 934 million euros. Exports increased by 67% and imports 44% compared to December 2009. The growth in exports was mainly influenced by the dispatches of machinery and equipment as well as transport equipment (incl. railway stock).

Main foreign trade partners of Estonia, 2010
Groups of countries,
countries of destination
Exports Groups of countries,
countries of consignment
Imports
million euros share,
%
change
compared to
previous year,
%
million euros share,
%
change
compared to
previous year,
%
Total 8 747 100 35 Total 9 245 100 27
EU27 5 995 69 33 EU27 7 371 80 26
EA16 2 706 31 22 EA16 3 508 38 25
CIS 1 140 13 50 CIS 1 005 11 29
1. Finland 1 487 17 24 1. Finland 1 377 15 31
2. Sweden 1 371 16 68 2. Germany 1 044 11 38
3. Russia 847 10 41 3. Sweden 1 012 11 66
4. Latvia 784 9 27 4. Latvia 1 003 11 31
5. Germany 457 5 16 5. Russia 763 8 28
6. Lithuania 429 5 39 6. Lithuania 714 8 -10
7. USA 331 4 21 7. Poland 593 6 44
8. Norway 300 3 46 8. Netherlands 307 3 13
9. Denmark 219 3 -1 9. China 282 3 94
10. France 216 2 44 10. Italy 224 2 37

 

Exports and imports by commodity sections, 2010
Commodity section by
Combined Nomenclature (CN)
Exports Imports Balance
million
euros
share,
%
change compared to
previous year, %
million
euros
share,
%
change compared to
previous year, %
million
euros
TOTAL 8 747 100 35 9 245 100 27 -498
Agricultural products and food preparations (I–IV) 836 10 27 1 022 11 9 -186
Mineral products (V) 1 376 16 27 1 612 17 14 -236
Raw materials and products of chemical industry (VI) 395 4 10 736 8 6 -341
Articles of plastics and rubber (VII) 280 3 38 520 6 33 -240
Wood and products thereof (IX) 799 9 42 261 3 38 538
Paper and articles thereof (X) 278 3 29 224 2 10 54
Textiles and products thereof (XI) 302 3 16 460 5 17 -158
Metals and products thereof (XV) 795 9 42 826 9 47 -31
Machinery and equipment (XVI) 1 976 23 56 2 171 24 55 -195
Transport equipment (XVII) 571 7 35 659 7 46 -88
Miscellaneous manufactured articles (XX) 668 8 24 209 2 12 459
Other 471 5 35 545 6 22 -74