The value of exports in agri-food products increased by EUR 0.4 billion.

According to the statistics of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), the value of imported agri-food products totalled EUR 6.8 billion in 2022. The value of intermediate products used increased by roughly 23%. The value of exports was roughly EUR 2.2 billion, up by 22% from 2021.The increase in the value of imports and exports was mainly due to higher prices.

Many times more technical fats were imported from the Netherlands

In imports, Finland’s key partners were the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden.

“The value of agri-food products imported from the Netherlands totalled approximately EUR 1.2 billion (+40%). Imports from the Netherlands consisted largely of various technical fats and oils, which were imported with a total value of EUR 560 million. This shows an increase of 230% from the previous year,” says Irene Rosokivi, senior statistician at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).

In addition, large volumes of propagating material for horticultural crops, such as seeds and seedlings, animal fats, sugar confectionary and beverages, were imported from the Netherlands. The importance of feed in imports increased by 53% percent from the previous year, and in total they were imported for approximately EUR 46 million.

More and more feed was imported from Germany

The value of agri-food products imported from Germany totalled EUR 786 million, showing an increase of EUR 120 million (+18%) from the previous year. Imports consisted mostly of bakery products, feed, cheeses and sugar confectionary and chocolate. The biggest increase was seen in the imports of feed, curd and pork.

Imports from Sweden totalled EUR 673 million, showing an increase of approximately EUR 76 million (+13%) from the previous year. Bakery products were imported from Sweden with a total value of almost EUR 100 million, in addition to which sugar confectionary, chocolate and processed food, for example, were also imported.

Feed mainly imported from Russia

“Russia’s share of the total imports of agri-food products decreased by about a third from the previous year to EUR 49 million. Russia’s sharply reduced imports consisted mostly of feed and feed materials, which were imported to Finland with a total value of EUR 34 million,” continues Rosokivi.

Frozen berries, maize and technical oils were also imported from Russia.

Norwegian salmon increased the value of imports and exports

Fresh whole salmon was imported from Norway to Finland with a total value of EUR 368 million in 2022. The value increased by 46% from the previous year, with the import volumes increasing by 7%. One third of the salmon volume (16.2 million kilos) remained in Finland, while the remaining 32.4 million kilos were delivered to other parts of Europe. The value of transiting Norwegian salmon through Finland was EUR 231 million in 2022, accounting for 37% of the total value of fish products imported for human consumption and 85% of that of fish products exported for human consumption.

“Measured by the value of products, key export countries for salmon were France, Poland and Lithuania,” says Pentti Moilanen, senior statistician at Luke.

Key export countries still Sweden, China and Estonia

Agri-food products were mostly exported to Sweden, Estonia, China and Germany. The value of exports to Sweden totalled EUR 0.44 billion (+19%). Key products exported to Sweden were sugar confectionery, chocolate, bakery products, yoghurt and butter. The value of exports to Estonia was EUR 192 million (+26%), consisting mostly of alcoholic beverages, bakery products, sugar confectionery and processed food products. Oats played an important part in exports to Germany, with their export value totalling nearly EUR 50 million. In addition, bakery products and alcoholic beverages, among others, were exported to Germany.

During the last five years, the value of exports to China has more than tripled, with its value totalling almost EUR 169 million in 2022. Between 2021 and 2022, the value of exports increased by approximately EUR 20 million (+13%). Exports to China are still dominated by milk and whey powder and pork, accounting for approximately 95% of total exports to China.

Background to the statistics

The statistics for foreign trade in agri-food products are based on the International Trade Statistics of Finnish Customs and its CN codes 1–24. In addition, the statistical database includes starch and sugar products from outside CN codes 1–24. However, these are not included in the figures of the statistics.

Preliminary monthly and annual statistics are published regarding foreign trade in agri-food products. In addition to the preliminary annual statistics, final annual statistics are published in the autumn.