Iceland Trade Deficit Narrows Sharply in February

Iceland’s trade deficit narrowed to ISK 37.9 billion in March 2026 from ISK 42.2 billion in the corresponding month of the previous year. Exports advanced by 22% year-on-year to ISK 93.1 billion, driven by higher shipments of farmed fish (+103%), marine products (+53%), and agricultural products (+12%). However, exports declined for manufactured goods (-3%) and other products (-30%). Meanwhile, imports rose 11% to ISK 131 billion, supported by increased purchases of capital goods (+65%), food and beverages (+29%), fuels and lubricants (+8%), and consumer goods (+6%). Over the past twelve months, Iceland’s trade deficit stood at ISK 421.3 billion.

Iceland’s trade deficit narrowed sharply to ISK 9.9 billion in February 2026 from ISK 59.5 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports rose 2% year-on-year to ISK 78 billion, driven by increased shipments of marine products (13.1%) and agricultural products (3.3%). Meanwhile, imports fell 35.2% to ISK 88 billion, weighed down by declines in capital goods excluding transport (-65.6%), transport equipment (-30.6%), and fuels and lubricants (-26.9%).

Iceland’s trade deficit narrowed sharply to ISK 0.3 billion in January 2026 from ISK 7.8 billion in the corresponding month of the previous year. This marked the smallest trade deficit since a surplus recorded in January 2019, as exports fell less than imports. Exports declined by 20.9% year-on-year to ISK 72.4 billion, weighed down by lower shipments of manufactured goods (-36.6%) and other products (-49%). Imports also fell by 26.8% to ISK 72.7 billion, driven by a notable drop in purchases of industrial supplies (-35.8%), fuels and lubricants (-41.2%), capital goods (-35.2%), and transport equipment (-23.5%).