Exports of agri-food products accelerated – a record volume of oats exported to Germany

A positive change was seen in the exports of agri-food products. The export value increased by five per cent to roughly EUR 2.3 billion. The value increased the most significantly for potatoes, oats, alcoholic beverages and vegetables. Oat exports were accelerated by the large oat harvest of the previous autumn and vegetable exports by the doubled exports of greenhouse cucumbers.

The import value of almost EUR 6.9 billion remained unchanged. While product groups only underwent minor changes, the import value of beverages and confectionery increased in particular, whereas that of various fats and oils decreased.

Europe accounted for more than 85 per cent of exports

Of total exports, the EU accounted for approximately 75 per cent and the rest of Europe for ten per cent. Non-European countries only covered 14 per cent of exports. Of these, the most important export country was China.

“The value of exports to China remained almost unchanged, and the value of agri-food products exported there remained at roughly EUR 90 million. Milk powder, pork and other meat products were the largest product groups exported to China. Frozen berries were exported from Finland to China in smaller volumes than before”, says Irene Rosokivi, Senior Statistician at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).

Exports of milk and dairy products most significant financially

The export value of milk and dairy products was roughly EUR 460 million. Other important product groups in exports were processed food products (EUR 424 million), alcohol (EUR 238 million), beverages and confectionery (EUR 238 million), as well as cereals and cereal products (EUR 242 million).

Oat exports up to almost EUR 140 million

Last year, the value of cereal exports was a quarter higher than in 2023. Oats accounted for the majority of cereal exports, and the value of oat exports increased by almost 40 per cent. The most significant export country for oats was Germany, accounting for nearly half of the total exports of roughly 570 million kilos. Significant volumes of oats were also exported to Spain, Belgium and Sweden. In late autumn 2024, the increase in exports was driven by the oat harvest which was roughly 200 million larger than in the previous year.

More agricultural products than before exported to Sweden

Sweden was Finland’s most important export country, in which more agri-food products than before were exported at a value of almost EUR 520 million. Milk and dairy products recorded the largest export volumes, with their value being EUR 110 million. Sweden was followed by Estonia, in which the export value of agri-food products was roughly EUR 230 million, including fish and fish products, alcoholic beverages, coffee and confectionery. Oats accounted for almost half of the total value of exports to Germany of EUR 160 million.

A negative trade balance for fish products

The import value of all fish products, excluding salmon transiting, was EUR 389 million. The value of whole salmon imported into Finland from Norway was EUR 303 million, part of which was re-exported fresh to Europe. The value of salmon remaining in Finland was EUR 125 million, totalling 16.5 million kilos.

The export value, excluding salmon transiting, was EUR 73 million. The most significant decrease was seen in the exports of whole fresh rainbow trout, as well as salmon and trout fillet, whereas the exports of fresh and frozen Baltic herring increased.

“Measured by the value of products, key export countries for salmon were the Netherlands, France, Poland and Lithuania”, Rosokivi says.

Processed food products, beverages and fruit were imported into Finland

Of total agri-food product imports into Finland, various processed food products recorded the largest import volumes at a total value of EUR 1.9 billion. They were followed by beverages and confectionery, with their value being almost EUR 1 billion. Fruit, berries and vegetables were also imported in significant volumes at a total value of roughly EUR 0.7 billion. Measured by the import value, Finland’s key partners were the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden.

“Agri-food product imports from the Netherlands totalled roughly EUR 1.1 billion, consisting mostly of various oils and fats, processed food products, as well as garden plants and plant propagating materials. The value of imports into Finland from Germany was almost EUR 940 million, consisting mostly of processed food products, beverages, confectionery, as well as milk and dairy products. Imports from Sweden totalled EUR 747 million, including processed food products, beverages, fish and fish products”, Rosokivi says.

This is the last preliminary annual statistics on foreign trade in agri-food products compiled by Luke. We will publish the figures of the final annual statistics for 2024 in September 2025. Foreign trade in agri-food products can later be monitored in the foreign trade statistics of Finnish Customs at Tulli, Tilastotietokanta – Verti