Foreign trade
Foreign 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 foreign trade balance of the country. In foreign 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 of residents and non-residents.
Foreign trade statistics are published at current prices and provide answers to the following questions:
- what is the total value of foreign trade;
- what is the value of exported and imported goods and services;
- how much are goods and services of Estonian origin exported to European Union countries and third countries;
- to what extent are goods and services purchased from other countries;
- which countries are Estonia’s main export and import partners;
- what is the balance of trade in goods.
The main users of foreign trade data are Eesti Pank (Bank of Estonia), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, international organisations Eurostat, UN, OECD, IMF and WTO. Foreign trade data are important for monitoring economic developments in the country and planning economic policy. The statistics are also used in the calculation of the GDP and compiling the balance of payments. Enterprises can use the data for market research purposes.
Exports of goods of Estonian origin fell by 8% in February
According to Statistics Estonia, exports of goods fell by 1% in February this year compared with the same month of the previous year, while imports increased by 6%. Exports of goods amounted to nearly 1.5 billion euros and imports to nearly 1.9 billion euros at current prices. Goods of Estonian origin were exported in smaller quantities in February than a year earlier.
In January, exports of goods were up by 4% and imports down by 2%
According to Statistics Estonia, in January 2026, exports of goods increased by 4% and imports decreased by 2% compared with January 2025. Exports of goods amounted to nearly 1.6 billion euros and imports to more than 1.8 billion euros at current prices. The trade deficit was 247 million euros, which is 103 million euros less than a year earlier.
The growth in foreign trade in services was mainly driven by imports and exports of other business services
According to Statistics Estonia and Eesti Pank, in the fourth quarter of 2025, Estonia’s exports of services grew by 8% and imports by 6%. Exports of services totalled 3.6 billion euros and imports 2.8 billion euros at current prices. In 2025 as a whole, exports of services increased by 10% and imports by 11%, amounting to 13.8 billion and 10.6 billion euros, respectively.