Trade balance posts €1.2b deficit in Sept

The value of goods exports was lower than the value of goods imports in September and Finland saw a trade deficit of about EUR 1.2 billion, according to the preliminary statistics of Finnish Customs released on Monday.

The trade balance has been in deficit almost every month and the total trade deficit in January–September period of this year was EUR 4.0 billion.

According to the statistics, Finland’s goods exports continued growing in September 2026, at which time the value of goods exports was EUR 6.7 billion. Compared to September last year exports grew by 6.5 per cent. The total export in January–September grew by 11.0 per cent.

The most significant growth was in the export of metal industry products (20%), industrial machinery and equipment (18%), and electrotechnical products (15%).

In addition, increased exports of paper and paperboard and timber from the forest industry contributed to the rise in total exports. The export of gold grew by 65 per cent in September.

In September, the growth rate of exports slowed down slightly compared to the previous months.

The 40 per cent decrease in the export value of oil products had a significant impact on the lower growth rate of the value of total exports in the previous months. Exports of transport equipment and pulp were also down from the previous year.

“The increase in the value of gold exports has been very rapid throughout this year. The total value of exports in January–September already exceeded the value of exports for all last year. Gold already accounted for four per cent of the total value of exports. Gold is exported almost exclusively to Switzerland,” said Senior Customs Officer Christina Telasuo.

The export growth in January–September is partly explained by a rise in export volumes, which was 2.3 per cent. The increase in export prices, in turn, increased the value of exports by 8.0 per cent.