In January the exports of goods increased 11%

The growth of exports was partly caused by the low comparative base in 2009, as precisely in January of the previous year the exports was the smallest.

In January 2010 exports of goods from Estonia in current prices were 8.1 billion kroons and imports to Estonia accounted for 8.6 billion kroons. The trade deficit was announced as 0.5 billion kroons, which was threefold smaller compared to January 2009.

In January the value of goods exported to the EU countries (EU 27) was 5.6 billion kroons with the share of 70% of total exports. Compared to the same month of the previous year exports to the EU countries increased 5%. Exports to other countries or the so-called third countries amounted to 2.4 billion kroons and increased by 29% compared to January 2009.

Imports from the European Union (EU 27) countries totalled 6.7 billion kroons with the share of 78% of Estonian total imports. Imports from EU 27 countries increased 4%. Imports from other countries than EU 27 accounted for 1.9 billion kroons, decreasing by a fifth compared to January of the previous year.

The trade deficit between the EU countries amounted to 1.1 billion kroons (1.1 billion kroons also in January of the previous year). At the same time the trade balance with other countries than the EU was positive or exports to those countries exceeded imports by 0.6 billion kroons.

In January 2010 compared to December 2009, exports decreased 6% and imports 16%. This is a regular decline of foreign trade at the beginning of the year.

Estonian foreign trade, January 2009 – January 2010

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 for January on the 26th of March.