In April foreign trade turnover of Latvia was 36.9 % larger than a year ago

Provisional data of the Central Statistical Bureau show that in April 2022 the foreign trade turnover of Latvia amounted to EUR 3.78 billion, which at current prices was 36.9 % larger than a year ago, of which the exports value of goods was 30.2 % higher, but imports value of goods – 42.5 % higher. In April Latvia exported goods in the amount of EUR 1.62 billion, but imported – in the amount of EUR 2.16 billion. Compared to April 2021, foreign trade balance has worsened as exports in total foreign trade amount decreased from 45.1 % to 42.9 %. It should be taken into account that the data on foreign trade in goods are reflected in actual prices and are calculated on the basis of the value of goods in euros and not their physical quantity.

During four months of this year foreign trade turnover of Latvia at current prices reached EUR 13.94 billion – EUR 3.74 billion or 36.7 % more than in the corresponding period of 2021. The exports value constituted EUR 6.25 billion (a growth of EUR 1.48 billion or 31 %), whereas the imports value comprised EUR 7.69 billion (a rise of EUR 2.26 billion or 41.7 %).

Calendar and seasonally adjusted data show that, compared to April 2021, in April 2022 the exports value at current prices went up by 34.5 %, but the imports value – by 46.4 %, whereas, compared to the previous month, the exports value went up by 2.1 %, but the imports value – by 12.7 %.

Main changes in exports in April 2022, compared to April 2021:

• exports of wood and articles of wood, wood charcoal up by EUR 116.5 million or 49.8 %;
• exports of mineral products up by EUR 76.1 million or 2.1 times;
• exports of products of the chemical and allied industries up by EUR 49.3 million or 44.3 %;
• exports of vegetable products up by EUR 45.5 million or 2 times;
• exports of live animals and animal products up by EUR 28.5 million or 60.5 %.

Main changes in imports in April 2022, compared to April 2021:

• imports of mineral products up by EUR 310.2 million or 3.5 times;
• imports of vehicles and associated transport equipment up by EUR 92.8 million or 64.5 %;
• imports of products of the chemical and allied industries up by EUR 47.4 million or 28.3 %;
• imports of vegetable products up by EUR 36.5 million or 60.4 %;
• imports of prepared foodstuffs up by EUR 34.2 million or 32.4 %.

The main exports partners in April were Lithuania (20.1 % of total exports), Estonia (13 %), Germany (8 %) and the United Kingdom (7.5 %), whereas the main import partners were Lithuania (25.7 % of total imports), Poland (9.8 %), Germany (9.1 %) and Estonia (8 %).

In April 2022, compared to April 2021, share of the European Union countries in total exports value increased by 4.6 percentage points, but in total imports value – fell by 0.1 percentage point. Share of CIS countries in exports fell by 4.9 percentage points, but in imports – by 2.2 percentage points.

Foreign trade of Latvia in April 2022 by country group

(at current prices)

In April 2022, compared to March 2022, exports value to Ukraine increased by EUR 7.1 million or 2.5 times. It was mainly affected by the rise of EUR 3.8 million in exports of products of the chemical and allied industries. Exports to Belarus went up by EUR 0.7 million or 5.3 %. In turn exports value to the Russian Federation fell by EUR 26.1 million or 29%, which was mainly affected by the decrease in exports of prepared foodstuffs and machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment.

In April 2022, compared to the previous month, imports value from Ukraine increased by EUR 7.2 million or 59 %. It was mainly affected by the rise of EUR 3 million or 62.7 % in imports of products of the chemical and allied industries. In turn, imports from the Russian Federation went up by EUR 5.4 million or 3.2 %. Growth in imports value from the Russian Federation was mostly affected by the increase in imports of mineral products by EUR 33.8 million. Imports from Belarus reduced by EUR 5.2 million or 12 %.

In April 2022 foreign trade balance of Latvia was positive with 105 partner countries, as exports value of goods exceeded imports value of goods. It was negative in trade with 53 countries.

The rise in exports of miscellaneous chemical products in April 2022, as compared to April 2021, was mostly facilitated by an increase in exports of biodiesel and mixtures thereof by EUR 30.6 million, but growth in exports of mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation was affected by rise in exports of natural gas by EUR 34 million.

Main commodities in exports of Latvia in April 2022

(at current prices)

The rise in imports in commodity group “aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof” in April 2022, as compared to April 2021, was affected by purchase of aircrafts of EUR 90.4 million. In turn, reduction in imports of iron and steel was mostly influenced by drop in imports of flat-rolled products of iron and non-alloy steel by EUR 35.8 million or 64.8 %.

Main commodities in imports of Latvia in April 2022

(at current prices)

More information on the foreign trade of Latvia by month and quarter, as well as by country group and commodity group is available in the Official statistics portal section “Foreign trade” and exports and imports data analysis tool.

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

More information on data:
Ieva Jansone
Foreign Trade Statistics Section
E-mail: Ieva.Jansone@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366721