According to Statistics Estonia, in August 2025, exports of goods decreased by 2% compared with August 2024, while imports increased by 2%. The decline in exports of goods in August was mainly due to a fall in exports to countries outside the EU.
Exports of goods amounted to over €1.4 billion and imports to nearly €1.7 billion at current prices. Allan Aron, foreign trade analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that the last time exports of goods declined year on year was in August 2024. “The decrease in exports in August 2025 was mostly influenced by a fall in exports to countries outside the European Union. Exports to EU countries grew by 3%, but exports to non-EU countries fell by as much as 16%,” the analyst noted.
“Looking at countries outside the European Union, exports to the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia dropped significantly. Exports of electrical equipment to the United States, wood and articles of wood to the United Kingdom, and machinery and mechanical appliances to Russia saw the biggest decline,” Aron added.
Electrical equipment was the most exported commodity in August
The main commodities exported in August were electrical equipment (15% of Estonia’s total exports), agricultural products and food preparations (12%), wood and articles of wood (10%), and transport equipment (10%). Compared with August 2024, the biggest decrease occurred in the exports of mineral products (down by €24 million, or 15%) and base metals and articles of base metal (down by €14 million, or 11%). The greatest increase was seen in the exports of transport equipment (up by €14 million, or 11%).
“Exports to EU countries grew by 3%, but exports to non-EU countries fell by as much as 16%.”
Allan Aron, foreign trade analyst at Statistics Estonia
Estonia’s top export partner in August was Finland (16% of total exports), followed by Latvia (11%), Sweden (9%), and Lithuania (9%). The main commodities exported were electrical equipment to Finland and Sweden and transport equipment to Latvia and Lithuania.
Compared with August 2024, the biggest decline was registered in exports to Latvia (down by €28 million), the Netherlands (down by €22 million), and the United States (down by €20 million). To Latvia and the Netherlands, the sharpest decline was seen in exports of mineral products. Exports of goods to Singapore grew the most (by €31 million), with increased dispatches of mineral products.
Goods of Estonian origin accounted for 65% of the total exports of goods in August, and their exports remained at the same level as last year. Re-exports of goods, i.e. the exports of previously imported goods, decreased by 6%.
Estonia’s top import partner was Latvia
The main commodities imported in August were electrical equipment (15% of Estonia’s total imports), agricultural products and food preparations (13%), transport equipment (11%), and mineral products (11%). The biggest year-on-year increases were seen in the imports of electrical equipment (up by €30 million, or 14%) and the greatest decline was recorded in the imports of mineral products (down by €19 million, or 9%).
In August, the top partner countries for imports of goods were Latvia (12% of Estonia’s total imports), Finland (11%), Germany (11%), and Lithuania (11%). The main commodities imported were mineral products from Latvia, Finland, and Lithuania, and transport equipment from Germany.
Year on year, the biggest rise occurred in imports from the Netherlands (up by €40 million), Latvia (up by €35 million), and the United States (up by €25 million). There were more arrivals of mineral products from the Netherlands and Latvia and greater imports of electrical equipment from the United States. The greatest fall was registered in imports of goods from Finland (down by €76 million), as there were fewer arrivals of mineral products.
Are you interested in trading with Estonia? Enterprise Estonia is providing sourcing services for foreign enterprises. Contact Estonian export advisors or use our free e-consulting service to start trade with Estonia.
