Internal trade

How successful are Estonian trade enterprises? What goods are sold the most? Considering the number of active enterprises and turnover, internal trade is the largest economic activity in Estonia. It covers wholesale and retail trade as well as repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles.

Internal trade is closely connected with other activities – goods that people buy in shops or on the internet come from factories, craftsmen and farmers. The goods are carried by transport enterprises. Consumption of products made in Estonia supports local business, and also means that the goods are delivered to consumers in the most cost-effective way.

Statistics Estonia publishes the following data for trade enterprises:

  • turnover;
  • turnover volume index;
  • retail sales;
  • retail sales volume index;
  • sales of wholesale enterprises;
  • trade margin;
  • costs;
  • profits;
  • assets;
  • liabilities;
  • equity capital;
  • investments;
  • value added;
  • productivity indicators.

The data of internal trade help to assess how trade enterprises are doing and the impact of the largest economic activity on the whole economy. By analysing data, the heads of trade enterprises can make more informed sales and management decisions, assess their competitiveness on the market, choose pricing principles and react to changing market conditions.

Change in turnover volume index of retail trade enterprises compared to previous period -21.7 %
JANUARY 2024
Change in turnover volume index of retail trade enterprises compared to the corresponding period in previous year -6.7 %
JANUARY 2024
Net sales of trade enterprises 8.24 billion euros
-7.1%
Q4 2023
Retail sales of trade enterprises 2.70 billion euros
3.4%
Q4 2023
Wholesale sales and wholesale on a fee or contract basis of trade enterprises 5.20 billion euros
-12.4%
Q4 2023
Trade margin of retail trade enterprises 21.0 %
Q4 2023
Retail sales volume index change compared to same period in previous year 0.8 %
Q4 2023
Retail sales volume index change compared to previous period 1.8 %
Q4 2023
Net sales of trade enterprises by quarter | 1st quarter 2015 – 4th quarter 2023
Assets, liabilities and trade margin of trade enterprises by economic activity, quarters | 4th quarter 2022 – 4th quarter 2023
4th quarter 2022 1st quarter 2023 2nd quarter 2023 3rd quarter 2023 4th quarter 2023
Average quarterly number of persons employed 93,304.0 92,534.0 93,845.0 94,740.0 92,263.0
Turnover, million euros 8,867.2 7,918.2 8,365.3 8,033.0 8,237.9
Retail sales, million euros 2,606.9 2,375.1 2,666.3 2,648.7 2,695.1
Wholesale sales and wholesale on a fee or contract basis, million euros 5,935.6 5,192.0 5,364.1 5,091.5 5,198.0
Costs total, million euros 8,512.7 7,567.1 7,996.5 7,746.0 7,920.9
Trade margin, % 19.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0
Selling time of goods inventories, days 39.0 43.0 40.0 44.0 41.0

Retail sales volume index change compared to previous period, quarters | 4th quarter 2022 – 4th quarter 2023
Unit: %
4th quarter 2022 1st quarter 2023 2nd quarter 2023 3rd quarter 2023 4th quarter 2023
Commodities total -0.6 -9.8 11.2 -1.3 1.8
Food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products -3.0 -9.2 9.2 0.7 -0.7
Food -2.2 -7.4 7.9 -0.3 0.9
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products -5.1 -14.8 13.7 4.0 -5.6
Manufactured goods 0.8 -9.7 12.5 -2.5 2.9
Clothing, woven materials, footwear 2.8 -20.0 15.7 -5.2 7.0
Motor vehicles, their parts and accessories and automotive fuel -6.8 7.9 13.8 -4.1 -0.9
Other goods 4.0 -16.7 11.2 -0.9 4.2

Retail sales volume index change compared to same period in previous year, quarters | 4th quarter 2022 – 4th quarter 2023
Unit: %
4th quarter 2022 1st quarter 2023 2nd quarter 2023 3rd quarter 2023 4th quarter 2023
Commodities total -6.0 -4.0 -2.2 -1.6 0.8
Food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products -6.7 -5.4 -5.4 -3.1 -0.9
Food -10.7 -8.0 -5.7 -2.6 0.5
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products 4.3 1.5 -5.0 -4.4 -4.9
Manufactured goods -5.2 -2.6 0.5 -0.1 2.0
Clothing, woven materials, footwear 6.0 11.9 -6.5 -9.8 -6.1
Motor vehicles, their parts and accessories and automotive fuel 1.1 12.7 18.8 9.7 16.7
Other goods -9.2 -12.6 -8.8 -4.5 -4.4