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 13.3 %
DECEMBER 2024
Change in turnover volume index of retail trade enterprises compared to the corresponding period in previous year 1.2 %
DECEMBER 2024
Net sales of trade enterprises 7.90 billion euros
-1.6%
Q3 2024
Retail sales of trade enterprises 2.62 billion euros
-1.1%
Q3 2024
Wholesale sales and wholesale on a fee or contract basis of trade enterprises 5.01 billion euros
-1.6%
Q3 2024
Trade margin of retail trade enterprises 21.0 %
Q3 2024
Retail sales volume index change compared to same period in previous year -2.8 %
Q3 2024
Retail sales volume index change compared to previous period -0.5 %
Q3 2024
Net sales of trade enterprises by quarter | 4th quarter 2015 – 3rd quarter 2024
Assets, liabilities and trade margin of trade enterprises by economic activity, quarters | 3rd quarter 2023 – 3rd quarter 2024
3rd quarter 2023 4th quarter 2023 1st quarter 2024 2nd quarter 2024 3rd quarter 2024
Average quarterly number of persons employed 94,740.0 92,263.0 89,310.0 89,965.0 89,995.0
Turnover, million euros 8,033.0 8,237.9 7,291.6 7,958.4 7,902.9
Retail sales, million euros 2,648.7 2,695.1 2,326.6 2,644.4 2,619.4
Wholesale sales and wholesale on a fee or contract basis, million euros 5,091.5 5,198.0 4,719.0 5,028.3 5,008.3
Costs total, million euros 7,746.0 7,920.9 7,157.8 7,649.8 7,634.0
Trade margin, % 21.0 21.0 20.0 21.0 21.0
Selling time of goods inventories, days 44.0 41.0 43.0 39.0 41.0

Retail sales volume index change compared to previous period, quarters | 3rd quarter 2023 – 3rd quarter 2024
Unit: %
3rd quarter 2023 4th quarter 2023 1st quarter 2024 2nd quarter 2024 3rd quarter 2024
Commodities total -1.1 1.7 -14.6 12.5 -0.5
Food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products 0.8 -0.7 -10.2 9.4 -1.8
Food -0.3 0.9 -7.7 5.7 -2.0
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products 4.0 -5.7 -18.1 22.3 -1.1
Manufactured goods -2.0 3.0 -17.0 14.3 0.1
Clothing, woven materials, footwear -5.2 7.0 -25.6 15.5 6.7
Motor vehicles, their parts and accessories and automotive fuel -3.0 -1.0 -8.8 13.6 -2.9
Other goods -0.8 4.4 -19.6 14.4 1.0

Retail sales volume index change compared to same period in previous year, quarters | 3rd quarter 2023 – 3rd quarter 2024
Unit: %
3rd quarter 2023 4th quarter 2023 1st quarter 2024 2nd quarter 2024 3rd quarter 2024
Commodities total -1.3 1.0 -4.3 -3.4 -2.8
Food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products -3.3 -0.9 -1.9 -1.6 -4.1
Food -2.6 0.5 0.2 -1.8 -3.4
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products -4.4 -5.0 -8.6 -1.7 -6.5
Manufactured goods -0.5 1.9 -5.7 -4.3 -2.2
Clothing, woven materials, footwear -9.6 -5.8 -12.5 -12.8 -1.9
Motor vehicles, their parts and accessories and automotive fuel 8.7 15.8 -0.9 -0.6 -0.4
Other goods -4.1 -3.7 -7.2 -4.8 -3.0

News

Retail trade volume down by 3% last year

According to the preliminary data of Statistics Estonia, the total turnover of retail trade enterprises in 2024 was €10.4 billion. Compared with 2023, the volume of retail trade turnover decreased by 3%.

Read more 31. January 2025
News

Retail trade volume down by 1% year on year

According to Statistics Estonia, in November 2024, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was €884 million. Compared with November 2023, the volume of retail trade turnover decreased by 1%.

Read more 2. January 2025

Estonia will desynchronise from the Russian electricity grid on 8 February and join the continental European network on 9 February. It is very unlikely that residents will notice the transition to the European frequency area. Nevertheless, there may be issues with supply security in Estonia during the transition, which could impact data submission and publication at Statistics Estonia.