Monthly statistics on the international trade in goods, October 2018

31.12.2018 9.00

---

---

Finnish Customs, Statistics

Both export volume and export prices rose in October

The value of Finnish exports of goods increased by eight per cent in October according to international trade in goods statistics provided by Finnish Customs. The value of Finnish exports was 5.8 billion euros. Export prices increased by 5.4 per cent and export volume by 3.3 per cent. In January-October, exports increased by seven per cent year-on-year.

The value of imports increased also by eight per cent in October and was almost six billion euros. Import prices increased by 10.7 per cent while import volume decreased by 1.0 per cent. In January-October, the total import value increased by seven per cent compared to the previous year.

The balance of trade showed a deficit of 180 million euros in October. In January-October, the balance of trade had a deficit of 2.1 billion euros. In October the previous year, the trade deficit was 210 million euros, and in January-October the trade balance showed a deficit of almost 2.2 billion euros. The terms of trade for foreign 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 in October because import prices grew more than export prices. The point figure in October was 97.2, while it was 102.1 October the previous year. The terms of trade weakened from the previous month's point figure of 97.4.

Exports of transport equipment declined in October, while exports of other major goods categories increased. Imports of electrical machinery and equipment, transport equipment, crude oil and petroleum products, chemical industry products and food items increased, while imports of industrial machinery and metals were down.

Exports to EU member states increased by five per cent and exports to non-EU countries by 14 per cent in October. The most important export countries to rise in October were Sweden, the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom. Exports to China decreased. Imports from EU-countries increased by five per cent and imports from non-EU countries by 11 per cent in October. Imports from Germany and the United Kingdom decreased, while imports from Russia, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United States and China increased.

Table 1. Total development (e million)

Direction	October 2017	October 2018	Change %	January-October 2017	January-October 2018	Change %
Exports (fob)	5 338	5 786	+8	49 635	53 130	+7
Imports (cif)	5 549	5 966	+8	51 805	55 218	+7
Balance	-210	-180		-2 170	-2 088

Table 2. International trade indexes (2010=100)

Index	October 2017	October 2018	Change % 2018:10/2018:09	Change % 2018:10/2017:10	Mean * 2017:11-2018:10	Change % 2017:11-2018:10/ 2016:11-2017:10
Volume index exports	106,5	110,1	+12,2	+3,3	101,3	+2,8
Volume index imports	113,4	112,3	+11,9	-1,0	105,4	-0,1
Unit value index exports	113,2	119,4	+0,4	+5,4	116,8	+4,5
Unit value index imports	110,9	122,8	+0,6	+10,7	119,0	+7,8

* Moving 12-months averages

---

Further information:
Kaarna, Anssi tel. +358 40 332 8153
Riikonen, Johanna tel. +358 40 332 1824
forename.surname@tulli.fi

• 

---

---