Estonia Trade Gap Smallest in Nearly 2 Years

Estonia’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 224 million in May 2026 from EUR 287 million in May 2025, marking the smallest trade gap since August 2024. Year-on-year, exports climbed 9% to EUR 1,720 million, driven by higher shipments to both EU countries (+13%) and non-EU countries (+14%). Export growth was led by mineral products (+64%), machinery and mechanical appliances (+25%), transport equipment (+6%), electrical equipment (+4%), and miscellaneous manufactured articles (+12%). Meanwhile, imports advanced 4% to EUR 1,945 million, supported by higher purchases from EU countries (+9%) and non-EU countries (+8%). Import growth was driven by mineral products (+38%), electrical equipment (+18%), machinery and mechanical appliances (+15%), transport equipment (+8%), and raw materials and products of the chemical industry (+9%). In the first five months of the year, the country recorded a trade deficit of EUR 1,512 million, compared with EUR 1,546 million in the same period of 2025.

Estonia’s trade deficit widened to EUR 365 million in April 2026 from EUR 347 million in the same month last year. Exports climbed 13% year-on-year to EUR 1,786 million, boosted by higher sales to both EU countries (+16%) and non-EU countries (+17%). Exports rose for mineral products (+76%), raw materials and products of the chemical industry (+23%), machinery and mechanical appliances (+21%), miscellaneous manufactured articles (+15%), electrical equipment (+13%), and transport equipment (+11%). Imports jumped 12% to EUR 2,151 million on higher purchases from both EU (+11%) and non-EU (+10%) countries. Among commodities, notable increases were seen in mineral products (+69%), optical, measuring and precision instruments (+33%), machinery and mechanical appliances (+14%), and electrical equipment (+14%). Over the first four months of the year, the country recorded a trade shortfall of EUR 1,268 million, marginally higher than the EUR 1,259 million recorded in the same period of 2025.

Estonia’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 234 million in March 2026 from EUR 268 million in the same month a year earlier, as exports rose faster than imports. Year-on-year, exports climbed 8% to EUR 1,849 million, driven by higher shipments to both EU countries (+16%) and non-EU countries (+19%). Among commodities, gains were recorded in electrical equipment (+26%), machinery and mechanical appliances (+18%), articles of plastic and rubber (+12%), mineral products (+9%), and raw materials and chemical products (+9%). Meanwhile, imports advanced 6% to EUR 2,083 million, supported by higher purchases from EU countries (+4%) and non-EU countries (+4%). Key arrivals included base metals and articles of base metal (+36%), electrical equipment (+21%), wood and articles of wood (+10%), and agricultural products and food preparations (+10%). In the first three months of the year, the country recorded a trade shortfall of EUR 923 million, compared with EUR 912 million in the same period of 2025.