Finland sees €913m trade deficit in March

The trade balance showed a deficit of EUR 913 million in March, according to the international trade in goods statistics provided by Finnish Customs on Wednesday.

In January-March 2025, the trade balance had accumulated a deficit of EUR 1.3 billion.

The aggregate trade surplus by commodity group increased for industrial machinery and equipment, metals and forest industry products.

The deficit increased for ores and metal scrap, chemicals and related products, and foods and beverages, but decreased for crude oil and refined petroleum products, transport equipment and electrical machinery and equipment.

The value of Finnish exports of goods increased by 18.8 per cent year-on-year in March. The value of Finnish exports was EUR 5.6 billion. Export volume increased by 18.5 per cent and export prices by 0.9 per cent year-on-year.

The value of imports increased by 14.1 per cent in March to EUR 6.5 billion. Import prices increased by 0.6 per cent and import volume by 17.4 per cent compared to March 2024.

In January-March, the total value of exports increased by 6.9 per cent and the value of imports by 2.1 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Change of export volume during the latest 12 months was +1.1 per cent (12-month moving average April 2024 – March 2025). The corresponding figure for import volume was +0.3 per cent.

The terms of trade improved in March compared to the corresponding month of 2024 as export prices increased more than import prices. The point figure in March was 98.9, while it was 98.7 in March 2024. The terms of trade also improved from February 2025.

The value of exports of capital goods increased by 27.0 per cent in March, and the value of exports of industrial supplies increased by 10.6 per cent year-on-year.

The value of exports of fuels and lubricants decreased by 7.8 per cent. The value of exports of consumer goods increased by 0.8 per cent, and the value of exports of food and beverages increased by 17.2 per cent. The value of exports of transport equipment and parts increased by 47.9 per cent.

The value of imports of industrial supplies increased by 28.0 per cent and the value of imports of capital goods increased by 14.9 per cent year-on-year.

The value of imports of transportation equipment and their parts increased by 21.4 per cent.

The value of imports of fuels and lubricants decreased by 22.5 per cent. The value of imports of food and beverages increased by 19.3 per cent, and the value of imports of consumer goods increased by 21.7 per cent.

The value of exports to EU member states increased by 20.8 per cent, and the exports to other countries increased by 15.0 per cent in March.

Imports from EU countries increased by 12.8 per cent, and imports from outside the EU increased by 16.1 per cent in March.

In January-March, total exports to EU countries increased by 8.4 per cent and exports to outside the EU by 4.6 per cent. In the same period, imports from EU countries increased by 4.5 per cent, but decreased from outside the EU by 1.3 per cent.

Earlier this month, Customs in the preliminary statistics said that the trade balance was in deficit of EUR 890 million in March.