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Monthly statistics on the international trade in goods, December 2019

28.2.2020 9.00



Finnish Customs, Statistics

Export volume increased, but export prices fell in December

The value of Finnish exports of goods increased by 13.4 per cent year-on-year in December, according to the international trade in goods statistics provided by Finnish Customs. The value of Finnish exports was EUR 5.6 billion. Export volumes increased by 14.7 per cent but export prices decreased by 0.4 per cent year-on-year.

The value of imports declined by 1.5 per cent in December to about EUR 5.3 billion. Import prices increased by 1.9 per cent, but import volumes decreased by 2.7 per cent compared to December 2018.

In January-December, the value of exports increased by 2.0 per cent, while the value of imports decreased by 1.4 per cent compared to 2018.

In December, the trade balance showed a surplus of EUR 317 million. In January-December, the trade balance showed a deficit of EUR 726 million. In December 2018, the trade balance showed a deficit of EUR 428 million and in January-December a deficit of approximately EUR 2.9 billion.

The terms of trade for international trade are calculated based on the unit value index. Terms of trade show the ratio between export and import prices. The terms of trade weakened compared to the corresponding month of 2018 as import prices increased and export prices fell. The point figure in December was 98.6, while it was 100.8 in December 2018. The terms of trade declined also from the November 2019 point figure of 98.8.

The export value of several main commodity groups declined in December. The value of total exports increased due to a vessel export to Italy. The value of total exports was also boosted by the increase in the value of exports of refined oil. The value of exports of other chemical products, forest industry products, passenger cars, industrial machinery and equipment and metals decreased. The value of exports of electrical machinery and equipment increased slightly. The value of nickel exports also increased in December. The decline in the value of total imports in December is partly explained by an aircraft import in December 2018. Imports of consumer goods and industrial supplies increased in December.

Exports to EU countries grew by 25 per cent, but exports outside the EU fell by two per cent in December. Exports to Sweden, Italy and Russia increased in December, but exports to other major export countries declined. Imports from EU countries fell by three per cent, while imports from outside the EU rose by one per cent in December. Imports from Russia, China and Germany increased, while imports from Sweden and the Netherlands declined in December. In January-December, exports both to EU countries and to non-EU countries increased by two per cent. During the same period, imports from EU countries were at the previous year's level, but imports from non-EU countries fell by three per cent.

Table 1. Total development (e million)

Direction December 2018 December 2019 Change % January-December 2018 January-December 2019 Change %
Exports (fob) 4 948 5 611 +13,4 63 682 64 932 +2,0
Imports (cif) 5 376 5 294 -1,5 66 585 65 658 -1,4
Balance -428 317   -2 903 -726  

Table 2. International trade indexes (2010=100)

Index December 2018 December 2019 Change %
2019:12/2019:11
Change %
2019:12/2018:12
Mean *
2019:01-2019:12
Change %
2019:01-2019:12/
2018:01-2018:12
Volume index exports 94,5 108,3 +10,7 +14,7 103,0 +1,1
Volume index imports 105,3 102,5 +1,3 -2,7 106,3 +0,8
Unit value index exports 118,1 117,6 -0,2 -0,4 118,8 +1,0
Unit value index imports 117,2 119,4 +0,1 +1,9 117,8 -1,8

* Moving 12-months averages

Free access to detailed statistics on the international trade in goods through Uljas  http://uljas.tulli.fi

Further information:
Kaarna, Anssi tel. +358 40 332 8153
Telasuo, Christina tel. +358 40 332 1828
forename.surname@tulli.fi

Exports and imports of Finland 2016-2019
  • Exports and imports of Finland 2016-2019

Asiasanat
Monthly statistics on the international trade Official Statistics of Finland
Seuraava julkistus

31.3.2020