In April the foreign trade turned to the growth

In April, exports from Estonia amounted to 1.08 billion euros and imports to Estonia to 1.21 billion euros at current prices. The trade deficit was 134 million euros and it slightly increased compared to April 2012. The surplus was registered only in the trade with the commodities connected to wood (incl. timber, paper, furniture).

The top destination countries of Estonia’s exports were Sweden (17% of Estonia’s total exports), followed by Finland (16%) and Russia (11%). Exports increased to all main partner countries, excl. USA. Compared to April 2012, the increase in total exports was mostly influenced by the increase in the dispatches to Sweden and Latvia (the growth by 38% and 24%, respectively). Mainly exports of timber and wood products increased to Latvia. Electrical equipment and wood and furniture were the main commodities exported to Sweden and Finland, electrical and mechanical equipment to Russia.

The main countries of consignment were Finland (14% of Estonia’s total imports), Sweden and Germany (11% from both). Compared to April of the previous year, arrivals of goods increased from all the partner countries excl. Lithuania (down by 11%). Compared to April of the previous year imports from Latvia and Poland increased the most (by 24% and 28%, respectively). Fuels and electrical equipment were the main commodities imported from Finland, electrical equipment from Sweden and mechanical equipment from Germany.

In Estonia’s exports in April, the biggest share was held by machinery and equipment (30% of Estonia’s total exports), followed by wood and wood products (9%). The increase in exports compared to April 2012 was mainly influenced by the increase in the dispatches of machinery and equipment and the raw materials and products of chemical industry (the growth rate 13% and 56%, respectively). At the same time the dispatches of mineral products (incl fuels, oil shale) decreased significantly (down by 42%).

In April the biggest share of Estonia’s imports was held by machinery and equipment (29% of Estonia’s total imports), followed by mineral products (13%) and agricultural products and food preparations (10%). The growth in total imports was mostly influenced by the increase in the arrivals of machinery and equipment and raw materials and products of chemical industry (up by 18% and 24%, respectively). At the same time arrivals of transport equipment decreased (by 18%).

Compared to March 2013, exports increased by 7% and imports by 8%. The monthly increase in exports was mainly influenced by the increase in the dispatches of electrical equipment and wood.

In April 2013, compared to April of the previous year, export prices fell by 1% and import prices by 2%.