Last year Estonia’s trade decreased

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Edited by Andres Einmann
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According to Statistics Estonia, in 2013, exports of goods decreased by 2% and imports by 1% at current prices, compared to 2012. In 2013, exports and imports decreased after three years of successive growth.

In 2013, exports from Estonia amounted to 12.3 billion euros and imports to Estonia to 13.7 billion euros at current prices. The trade deficit was 1.4 billion euros (in 2012, 1.3 billion euros). The largest trade surplus was recorded in trade with Sweden and Russia and the largest trade deficit occurred in trade with Germany and Lithuania.  

In 2013, the main countries of destination were Sweden (17% of Estonia’s total exports), Finland (16%) and Russia (11%). Electrical equipment and wood and products thereof were mainly exported to Sweden, electrical equipment and furniture to Finland, and mechanical equipment and agricultural products and food preparations to Russia. The largest decrease was recorded in exports to the USA and Russia (down by 39% and 7%, respectively), while exports to Latvia increased by 16% and to Finland by 8%.

The main countries of consignment were Finland (15% of Estonia’s total imports), Germany (11%) and Sweden (10%). Mineral products (incl. fuels) and electrical equipment were the main commodities imported from Finland, mechanical and transport equipment from Germany and electrical and transport equipment from Sweden. The most significant decrease occurred in imports from Russia and the Netherlands (down by 22% and 16%, respectively). Imports from Poland increased by 24% and from Finland by 4%.

The most important commodity group in exports was electrical equipment (20% of Estonia’s total exports), followed by mineral products (incl. motor spirits, shale oil and electricity) (11%), and agricultural products and food preparations (10%).

The decrease in Estonia’s exports in 2013 compared to 2012 was mostly caused by the decrease in the exports of mineral products and metals and products thereof (down by 31% and 14%, respectively).

In 2013, the biggest share of Estonia’s imports was held by electrical equipment (18% of Estonia’s total imports), followed by mineral products   (13%), and agricultural products and food preparations (11%). Imports of mineral products decreased the most (by 19%). At the same time, the imports of transport equipment (incl. vehicles and railway rolling stock) and agricultural products and food preparations increased (by 12% and 9%, respectively).

In December 2013, the value of exports of goods was 0.9 billion euros and the value of imports was 1 billion euros. Compared to December 2012, exports remained at the same level, but imports decreased by 9%.

In 2013 compared to 2012, export prices fell by 1.1% and import prices by 1.6%. The last annual decrease of export and import prices was recorded in year 2009.

Estonia’s foreign trade, January–December, 2012–2013
MonthExports, million eurosImports, million eurosBalance, million euros
20122013change, %20122013change, %20122013
Total12 517,912 268,5-213 847,613 668,9-1-1 329,7-1 400,4
January946,71 128,619985,31 149,417-38,6-20,8
February980,6960,8-21 093,51 077,5-1-112,9-116,7
March1 071,81 005,9-61 203,41 127,1-6-131,6-121,2
April1 020,71 081,261 129,01 211,77-108,3-130,5
May1 038,01 114,371 161,91 194,13-123,8-79,7
June1 024,5974,8-51 152,91 160,11-128,3-185,3
July1 047,5939,6-101 164,31 139,1-2-116,8-199,6
August1 125,4998,8-111 236,21 092,9-12-110,8-94,1
September1 121,91 030,3-81 157,61 137,6-2-35,8-107,2
October1 101,21 093,4-11 311,01 225,5-7-209,8-132,1
November1 156,01 056,6-91 146,31 146,709,7-90,1
December883,6884,301 106,31 007,4-9-222,7-123,1
Main foreign trade partners of Estonia, 2013
Country of

 

destination,

group of

countries

Exports,

 

million

euros

Share,

 

%

Change

 

compared to

previous

year, %

Country of

 

consignment,

group of

countries

Imports,

 

million

euros

Share,

 

%

Change

 

compared to

previous

year, %

Total12 268,5100-2Total13 668,9100-1
EU-288 706,4715EU-2811 398,4833
EA173 739,1305EA175 189,3381
CIS1 641,613-10CIS981,47-33
1. Sweden2 062,61731. Finland2 056,8154
2. Finland1 973,41682. Germany1 437,0111
3. Russia1 404,111-73. Sweden1 386,110-1
4. Latvia1 270,410164. Latvia1 305,9103
5. Lithuania717,4685. Lithuania1 219,993
6. Germany557,15-16. Poland1 087,6824
7. Norway447,8477. Russia787,16-22
8. USA358,33-398. United Kingdom570,147
9. United Kingdom294,62129. China458,93-5
10. Denmark282,92-510. Netherlands444,33-16
Exports and imports by commodity sections, 2013
Commodity section (chapter)

 

by Combined Nomenclature (CN)

ExportsImportsBalance,

 

million

euros

million

 

euros

share, %change

 

compared to

previous

year, %

million

 

euros

share, %change

 

compared to

previous

year, %

TOTAL12 268,5100-213 668,9100-1-1 400,4
Agricultural products and food preparations (I–IV)1 244,11051 504,0119-260,0
Mineral products (V)1 289,011-311 733,313-19-444,3
Raw materials and products of chemical industry (VI)703,2691 066,58-6-363,2
Articles of plastics and rubber (VII)394,933695,054-300,0
Wood and products thereof (IX)1 054,5914365,8312688,7
Paper and articles thereof (X)310,13-2254,32655,8
Textiles and products thereof (XI)424,3317594,145-169,8
Metals and products thereof (XV)884,27-141 022,07-5-137,8
Mechanical appliances (84)960,68-111 399,010-1-438,4
Electrical equipment (85)2 492,72002 395,818-596,9
Transport equipment (XVII)809,47341 437,11112-627,7
Miscellaneous manufactured articles (XX)870,175309,729560,4
Other831,566892,669-61,1
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