Finnish-Russian trade contracts sharply

Preliminary figures released by Finnish Customs show that Finland’s goods exports to Russia fell by 58 % y-o-y in April. Lower demand, EU export restrictions and voluntary withdrawals from the Russian market by Finnish firms led to a decrease in exports. The declines in exports registered in April occurred across-the-board, affecting nearly all goods categories. For example, the value of exports in the machinery & equipment category fell by 83 % y-o-y, while the value of exports of electrical devices was down by 91 %. An exception was the increase in exports of copper matte, a less refined form of copper. Copper matte accounted for nearly 60 % of exports. The value of Finnish goods exports to Russia in April was just 140 million euros, its lowest level in over two decades.

The value of Finnish goods imports from Russia grew in April by 3 % y-o-y to 530 million euros. Growth was largely driven by rising commodity prices. The volume of nickel imports from Russia also increased. Non-ferrous metal giant Norilsk Nickel owns a production unit in Finland. Many of Finland’s top imports from Russia have already ceased. Imports of raw timber were discontinued already in March. Crude oil imports contracted sharply in March and April. Finnish Customs reports that no crude oil was imported from Russia in May. In addition, pipeline gas and electricity imports from Russia have stopped. Finnish coal imports will cease latest at the start of August under the EU ban on coal imports.

Total volume of EU goods exports to Russia contracted by 52 % y-o-y in March. In contrast, the total value of EU goods imports from Russia doubled in March due to high global commodity prices.

Finland’s goods exports to Russia fell in April to levels not seen since the early 2000s

Sources: Finnish Customs, BOFIT.