Estonia reported a 17% increase in exports in March 2025, while imports rose 13% year-on-year, according to new data from Statistics Estonia.
According to the statistics body, exports from Estonia reached close to €1.7 billion, while imports exceeded €1.9 billion, narrowing the trade deficit to €237 million, or €12 million less than in the same month a year ago.
Rise in exports
“Exports of goods grew in all commodity sectors,” commented Jane Leppmets, foreign trade analyst at Statistics Estonia. “The rise in exports was influenced by an even larger increase in re-exports, which rose by 27% year on year. This was mainly due to an increase in the re-exports of transport equipment.”
The share of goods of Estonian origin as a percentage of total exports fell by three percentage points, year-on-year, to 65%.
The main export categories from Estonia for the month of March included electrical equipment (13% of total exports) wood and wood products (12%) and agricultural and products (12%).
The biggest value increases for exports, meanwhile, came from transport equipment (up €37 million), mineral products (+€34 million), and base metals (+€27 million).
Finland remained Estonia’s top export destination, accounting for 16% of the country’s total exports. This was followed by Latvia (9%), Sweden (8%), and Lithuania (8%).
In value terms, the biggest increase in exports went to Finland (up €49 million) driven by more mineral exports, while exports to Latvia (up by €34 million) and Lithuania (up by €26 million) also rose, largely due to more transport equipment being shipped to both countries.
Imports to Estonia
On the import side, the largest contributions came from transport equipment, which rose 29%, or €60 million, as well as agricultural goods and electrical equipment. Latvia (13%), Germany (11%), and Finland (10%) were Estonia’s main sources of imports.
Overall, Estonia’s foreign trade expanded by 14% in the first quarter of 2025. ‘Exports of goods amounted to nearly €4.7 billion and imports to more than €5.5 billion at current prices,’ Statistics Estonia noted. ‘The trade deficit was €860 million, which is €107 million higher than in the first quarter of 2024.’ Read more here.
