Monthly statistics on the international trade in goods, April 2023

29.6.2023 9.00

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Finnish Customs, Statistics

Volumes and prices of both exports and imports decreased in April

The value of Finnish exports of goods decreased by 3.9 per cent year-on-year in April, according to the international trade in goods statistics provided by Finnish Customs. The value of Finnish exports was EUR 6.4 billion. Export volume decreased by 1.4 per cent, and export prices declined by 1.3 per cent year-on-year. The value of imports decreased by 20.3 per cent in April to EUR 6.1 billion. Import prices declined by 7.5 per cent, and import volume decreased by 13.2 per cent compared to April 2022. In January-April, the total value of exports increased by 0.8 percent, but the value of imports decreased by 13.0 percent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. Change of export volume during the latest 12 months was -4.6 per cent (12 month moving average May 2022 – April 2023). The corresponding figure for import volume was -4.3 per cent.

In April 2023, the trade balance showed a surplus of EUR 327 million. In January-April 2023, the trade balance had accumulated a deficit of 581 million euros, which was 4.1 billion euros less than a year earlier. The aggregate trade surplus by commodity group for products of chemical forest industry, industrial machinery and equipment and metals increased compared to the previous year. The trade surplus in products of mechanical forest industry decreased. The deficit increased for food products and beverages and transport equipment, but decreased for ores and metal scrap, crude oil and refined petroleum products and electrical machinery and equipment.

The terms of trade improved in April compared to the corresponding month of 2022 as import prices declined more rapidly than export prices. The point figure in April was 100.4, while it was 94.1 in April 2022. The terms of trade improved also from March 2023.

Export value of consumer goods increased in April

The value of exports of capital goods increased by 2.8 per cent in April, and the value of exports of industrial supplies decreased by 15.6 per cent year-on-year. The value of exports of fuels and lubricants decreased by 12.4 percent. The value of exports of consumer goods increased by 30.2 percent, and the value of exports of food and beverages decreased by 7.5 percent. The value of exports of transport equipment and parts decreased by 10.6 per cent.

The value of imports of industrial supplies decreased by 27.0 per cent in April, and the value of imports of capital goods by 5.8 per cent year-on-year. The value of imports of transportation equipment and their parts decreased by 10.3 percent. The value of imports of fuels and lubricants decreased by 41.0 percent. The value of imports of food and beverages decreased by 7.7 percent and the value of imports of consumer goods decreased by 11.9 percent.

Export value in external trade fell in April

The value of exports to EU countries increased by 0.4 percent and exports outside the EU decreased by 10.2 percent in April. Imports from EU countries fell by 13.0 percent and imports from outside the EU by 29.1 percent in April. In January-April, total exports to EU countries rose by 2.5 percent and exports outside to the EU decreased by 1.6 percent. In the same period, imports from EU countries decreased by 4.8 percent and from outside the EU by 22.7 percent.

* Moving 12-months averages

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Further information:
Riikonen, Johanna tel. +358 40 332 1824
Telasuo, Christina tel. +358 40 332 1828
forename.surname[at]tulli.fi

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