Trade in March was smaller than a year ago

Compared to March of the previous year, exports from Estonia decreased by 22% or 2.4 billion kroons and imports by 30% or 4.2 billion kroons. Foreign trade deficit amounted to 1.7 billion kroons (3.5 billion kroons in March 2008).Compared to February exports grew by 5% and imports by 11%. Such an increase was also influenced by the fact that there were three more working days in March compared with February.

In March the value of goods exported to the EU countries (EU 27) was 6 billion kroons with the share of 72% of total exports. Compared to March of the previous year, exports to the EU countries decreased by 1.9 billion kroons. Exports to non-EU countries or the so-called third countries amounted to 2.3 billion kroons and decreased by 0.5 billion kroons compared to March 2008.

Imports from the European Union (EU 27) countries totalled around 7.7 billion kroons with the share of 78% of Estonian total imports. Imports from EU 27 countries decreased by 3.9 billion kroons or by a third compared to March of the previous year. Imports from other countries than EU 27 accounted for 2.2 billion kroons and it decreased by 0.3 billion kroons or 13% compared to March of the previous year.

The trade deficit between the EU countries amounted to 1.8 billion kroons. At the same time the trade balance with other countries than the EU was positive or exports to those countries exceeded imports by 0.1 billion kroons.

Estonian foreign trade, January 2008 – March 2009

Statistics Estonia releases the first estimates about foreign trade on the 40th day after the end of the reference period which are then revised on the 54th day. Statistics Estonia will release a more detailed overview about foreign trade on the 25th of May.