Monthly statistics on the international trade in goods, September 2019

29.11.2019 9.00

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Finnish Customs, Statistics

Export volumes increased, but export prices fell slightly in September

The value of Finnish exports of goods grew by 1.3 per cent year-on-year, according to the international trade in goods statistics provided by Finnish Customs. The value of Finnish exports was almost EUR 5.3 billion. Export volumes increased by 2.8 per cent, but export prices decreased by 0.1 per cent year-on-year. In January-September, the value of exports increased by 2.7 per cent compared with the same period the year before.

The value of imports rose by 2.2 per cent in September to about EUR 5.5 billion. Import prices decreased by 2.6%, but import volumes increased by 5.8 per cent compared to last year. In January-September, the value of imports decreased by 0.4 per cent year-on-year.

In September, the trade balance showed a deficit of EUR 188 million. In January-September, the trade balance showed a deficit of EUR 750 million. In September 2018, the trade balance showed a deficit of EUR 138 million and a deficit of approximately EUR 2.2 billion in January-September.

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 improved in September because export prices declined less than import prices. The point figure in September was 99.9, while it was 97.4 in September 2018. The terms of trade declined from the August 2019 point figure of 101.5.

The value of exports of paper and board as well as pulp decreased in September. A somewhat steeper decline was for metals. The value of passenger car exports declined only slightly year-on-year. The value of exports of petroleum products increased markedly in September. The value of machinery and equipment exports also increased significantly. Imports of industrial supplies and fuels declined, but imports of other main groups increased in September.

Exports to EU countries grew by one per cent and exports to non-EU countries by two per cent year-on-year in September. Exports to Sweden and Germany increased slightly in September, while exports to the United States, Russia and the United Kingdom increased significantly. Exports to the Netherlands and China declined. Imports from EU countries increased by eight per cent, while imports from outside the EU fell by six per cent in September. Imports from Germany, Sweden and China increased, while imports from Russia and the Netherlands decreased. In January-September, exports to EU countries grew by one per cent and exports to non-EU countries by four per cent. During the same period, imports from EU countries also increased by one per cent, while imports from outside the EU decreased by three per cent. 

Table 1. Total development (e million)

Direction	September 2018	September 2019	Change %	January-September 2018	January-September 2019	Change %
Exports (fob)	5 200	5 270	+1,3	47 146	48 405	+2,7
Imports (cif)	5 339	5 458	+2,2	49 366	49 155	-0,4
Balance	-138	-188		-2 220	-750

Table 2. International trade indexes (2010=100)

Index	September 2018	September 2019	Change % 2019:09/2019:08	Change % 2019:09/2018:09	Mean * 2018:10-2019:09	Change % 2018:10-2019:09/ 2017:10-2018:09
Volume index exports	98,1	100,8	+3,9	+2,8	103,0	+2,0
Volume index imports	100,3	106,0	+1,1	+5,8	107,1	+1,5
Unit value index exports	118,9	118,8	+0,7	-0,1	118,7	+2,1
Unit value index imports	122,1	118,9	+2,2	-2,6	118,5	+0,4

* Moving 12-months averages

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

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