Lithuania Trade Deficit Widens in May

Lithuania posted a trade deficit of EUR 855.2 million in May 2026, widening from EUR 615.5 million in the same month last year, still remaining as the largest trade shortfall since July 2025. Exports edged up by 1.4% year-on-year to EUR 3,113.8 million, mainly due to increased exports of mineral fuels, mineral oils and their distillation products (59.7%), land vehicles, their parts (7.7%), tobacco and processed tobacco substitutes (20.7%). Meanwhile, imports grew 7.7% to EUR 3,969.0 million due to increased imports of mineral fuels, mineral oils and their distillation products (68.3%), organic chemical products (69.0%), plastics and articles thereof (19.0%). In the January-May period, the country’s trade deficit narrowed slightly to EUR 2,813.1 million from EUR 2,835.1 million in the same period a year ago, as exports (3.0%) rose faster than imports (2.4%).

Lithuania posted a trade deficit of EUR 606.9 million in April 2026, widening from EUR 567.7 million in the same month last year. This marked the biggest trade shortfall since July last year, as exports rose more than imports. Exports climbed by 18.2% year-on-year to an over three-year high of EUR 3,613.9 million, driven largely by higher sales of mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (88.7%), machinery and mechanical appliances (38.3%), and plastics and articles thereof (23.6%). Meanwhile, imports grew at a slightly softer 16.4% but to also a more than three-year high of EUR 4,220.8 million, due to increased purchases of mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (49.8%), and electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof (46.5%). In the January–April period, the country’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 1,958 million from EUR 2,219.6 million in the same period a year ago, as exports (3.4%) rose faster than imports (1.1%).

Lithuania’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 548.3 million in March 2026 from EUR 737 million in the same month last year, as exports rose while imports dropped. Exports increased by 2.7% year-on-year to EUR 3,352.5 million, driven by higher sales of fertilizers (26.7%), optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus (29.2%), and electrical machinery and equipment (9.1%). Imports fell by 2.5% to EUR 3,900.8 million due to reduced purchases of mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (-27%) and articles of iron or steel (-25.7%). For the first quarter, the trade deficit narrowed to EUR 1,338.6 million from EUR 1,618.7 million in the same period a year ago, as imports (-3.9%) dropped more than exports (-1.6%). During this period, exports to Latvia (3.6%), Poland (12.2%), Germany (7.8%), and Netherlands (7.4%) rose, while imports from Germany (-3.7%), China (-2.8%), and Saudi Arabia (-37.7%) fell.