International trade

International trade statistics give an overview of the trade in goods and services between Estonia and other countries. The difference between exports and imports is the international trade balance of the country. In international trade statistics, goods are recorded on the basis of their movement across the Estonian border and services on the basis of purchase and sale transactions between residents and non-residents.

International trade statistics are published at current prices.

These statistics reveal the following:

• the total value of foreign trade;
• the value of exported and imported goods and services;
• the amount of goods and services of Estonian origin exported to European Union countries and third countries;
• the amount of goods and services purchased from other countries;
• Estonia’s main export and import partners;
• the balance of trade in goods.

The main users of international trade data are Eesti Pank (the central bank of Estonia), the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance as well as international organisations, such as Eurostat, the United Nations, the OECD, the IMF and the WTO. International trade data are important for monitoring economic developments in Estonia and planning economic policies. The statistics are also used in the calculation of the GDP and for compiling the balance of payments. Enterprises can use the data for market research purposes.