Finland Posts Largest Trade Deficit in 6 Months

Finland recorded a trade deficit of EUR 0.66 billion in February 2026, widening sharply from EUR 0.25 billion in the corresponding month a year earlier, preliminary estimates showed. This was the largest trade deficit since August 2025, as exports declined while imports rose. Exports fell 3.1% year-on-year to EUR 5.58 billion, due to declines in shipments to both EU (-1.8%) and non-EU countries (-4.9%). Exports to the US (-17.0%), the Netherlands (-24.5%), and Poland (-4.5%) saw the largest drops. Meanwhile, imports increased 3.7% to EUR 6.24 billion. It should be noted that imports from EU countries are now compiled using a new methodology starting January 2026, so only total values are comparable with those of 2025. Finnish Customs will not publish other annual change data for imports in 2026. Considering the January–February period, the country's trade gap widened to EUR 1.19 billion, more than doubling from EUR 0.52 billion in the same period last year.

Finland's trade deficit widened sharply to EUR 0.55 billion in January 2026, more than doubling from EUR 0.27 billion in the same month a year earlier, according to preliminary estimates. Imports rose 8.4% year-on-year to EUR 6.4 billion, primarily driven by higher purchases from EU member states, which increased 2.8% to EUR 3.6 billion, while imports from non-EU countries surged 16.4% to EUR 2.8 billion. It should be noted that imports from EU countries are now compiled using a new methodology starting January 2026, so only total values are comparable with those of 2025. Finnish Customs will not publish other annual change data for 2026. Meanwhile, exports grew 3.7% to EUR 5.9 billion, supported mainly by rising sales to non-EU markets, which jumped 11.6% to EUR 2.6 billion, led by China (3.4%) and the US (47.5%). In contrast, exports to EU countries fell 1.8% to EUR 3.3 billion, weighed down by declines in shipments to the Netherlands (-24.9%) and Belgium (-28.5%).

Finland’s trade deficit narrowed slightly to EUR 0.21 billion in December 2025 from EUR 0.22 billion a year earlier, according to preliminary estimates. Exports rose 0.4% year-on-year to EUR 6 billion, driven by a sharp 12.6% increase to non-EU countries. Among key partners, exports surged to Switzerland (176.2%), Australia (128.4%), United Kingdom (106.8%), India (60%), and Japan (48.3%). Meanwhile, imports also increased by 0.3% to EUR 6.2 billion, supported by a 3.6% rise in purchases from non-EU countries, led by Taiwan (362.5%), Brazil (59.5%), Switzerland (37%), and India (35.7%). For full-year 2025, Finland recorded a cumulative trade deficit of EUR 0.86 billion, narrowing sharply from EUR 2.7 billion in the previous year.