Provisional data of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in January 2019, the foreign trade turnover of Latvia amounted to EUR 2.07 billion, which at current prices was 0.1 % less than a year ago, of which the exports value of goods was 0.6 % lower, but imports value of goods was 0.3 % higher. In January, Latvia exported goods in the amount of EUR 962.5 million, but imported – in the amount of EUR 1.11 billion. Compared to January 2018, foreign trade balance has worsened as exports in total foreign trade amount decreased from 46.8 % to 46.5 %.

Calendar and seasonally adjusted data show that, compared to January 2018, in January 2019 the exports value at current prices went down by 1.8 %, but the imports value – up by 0.6 %, whereas, compared to the previous month, the exports value increased by 0.2 %, but the imports value – reduced by 3.2 %.

Main changes in exports in January 2019, compared to January 2018:

exports of wood and articles of wood up by EUR 49.5 million or 31.2 %,
exports of prepared foodstuffs up by EUR 7.8 million or 10.6 %,
exports of machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical equipment down by EUR 39.3 million or 20.1 %,
exports of basic metals and articles of basic metals down by EUR 26.2 million or 29.7 %,
exports of vegetable products down by EUR 11.5 million or 16.4 %.

Main changes in imports in January 2019, compared to January 2018:

imports of prepared foodstuffs up by EUR 8.9 million or 10.1 %,
imports of wood and articles of wood up by EUR 7 million or 16.9 %,
imports of mineral products down by EUR 14.1 million or 16.7 %,
imports of vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment down by EUR 11.1 million or 10.9 %,
imports of machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical equipment down by EUR 8.6 million or 3.2 %.

In January, the main export partners of Latvia in trade with EU countries were Lithuania (16 % of total exports), Estonia (12.2 %), Germany (8.4 %) and Sweden (7.8 %), whereas the main import partners were Lithuania (17.2 % of total imports), Germany (10.7 %), Poland (9.4 %) and Estonia (8.2 %).

Russia was the main partner in trade with third countries; its share in total Latvian exports in January accounted for 7.1 %, whereas in imports – for 7.3 %.

Main export and import partners of Latvia in January 2019
(% of total)

Main export and import partners of Latvia in January 2019 (% of total)

In January 2019, compared to January 2018, share of the European Union countries increased both in total exports and imports value – by 4.5 percentage points and 1 percentage point, respectively. Rise in share of CIS countries comprised 1.4 percentage points in exports and 0.2 percentage points – in imports.

Foreign trade of Latvia in January 2019 by country group
(at current prices)

	Exports			Imports
	million EUR	% of total	changes as %, compared to January 2018	million EUR	% of total	changes as %, compared to January 2018
Total	962.5	100	-0.6	1 106.7	100	0.3
European Union countries	735.0	76.4	5.5	839.0	75.8	1.7
euro area countries	486.1	50.5	3.8	614.9	55.6	0.1
CIS countries	101.9	10.6	14.9	120.5	10.9	2.5
other countries	125.6	13.0	-31.4	147.2	13.3	-8.4

As exports value of goods in January 2019 exceeded imports value of goods, foreign trade balance of Latvia was positive with 116 partner countries. It was negative in trade with 49 countries.

Foreign trade of Latvia balance
(difference in export and import values of goods, million EUR)

Foreign trade of Latvia balance (difference in export and import values of goods, million EUR)

Rise of exports of wood and wood products; wood charcoal in January 2019, as compared to January 2018, was affected by the increase in exports of fuelwood of EUR 23 million or 97.1%. But exports of machinery and mechanical appliances reduced as exports of turbojets, turbopropellers and other gas turbines dropped by EUR 41.1 million or 98.9 %.

Main commodities in exports of Latvia in January 2019
(at current prices)

	thousand EUR	as % of total	Changes as %, compared to
	thousand EUR	as % of total	January 2018	December 2018	average of previous 12 months
Total	962 523	100	-0.6	2.0	-6.5
wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal	208 088	21.6	31.3	23.3	11.3
electrical machinery and equipment	106 669	11.1	3.3	-0.1	2.0
vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof	59 935	6.2	10.9	17.1	1.9
machinery and mechanical appliances	49 642	5.2	-46.3	-12.1	-40.1
beverages, spirits and vinegar	40 211	4.2	18.9	-26.6	-23.0
mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation	39 255	4.1	-13.0	7.4	-2.8
cereals	35 287	3.7	-6.9	13.7	19.8
pharmaceutical products	32 596	3.4	1.5	-12.3	-10.5
articles of iron and steel	30 092	3.1	-5.0	8.3	-11.9
plastics and articles thereof	28 015	2.9	16.9	18.0	2.5

Rise of imports of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in January 2019, as compared to January 2018, was affected by the increase in imports of whiskey by EUR 3.8 million or 58.9 %. In turn, reduction in imports of mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation was mostly influenced by decrease of imports of diesel oil by EUR 6 million or 14.6 %.

Main commodities in imports of Latvia in January 2019
(at current prices)

	thousand EUR	as % of total	Changes as %, compared to
	thousand EUR	as % of total	January 2018	December 2018	average of previous 12 months
Total	1 106 743	100	0.3	-8.0	-14.2
electrical machinery and equipment	143 934	13.0	-3.3	18.2	9.5
machinery and mechanical appliances	116 368	10.5	-3.1	-19.8	-22.7
vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof	86 706	7.8	-13.3	-19.8	-21.6
mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation	64 122	5.8	-19.5	-8.4	-45.2
iron and steel	54 898	5.0	0.4	7.5	-1.0
pharmaceutical products	48 566	4.4	3.5	17.3	-2.4
wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal	48 493	4.4	16.7	12.5	-0.4
plastics and articles thereof	47 931	4.3	-1.0	15.8	-8.1
beverages, spirits and vinegar	35 001	3.2	18.7	-26.3	-28.6
articles of iron and steel	25 448	2.3	-7.9	-6.3	-18.7

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666

More information on data:
Lilita Laganovska
Foreign Trade Statistics Methodology, Analysis and Dissemination Section
E-mail: Lilita.Laganovska@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366604

Foreign trade in goods

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