HELSINKI: The value of Finnish exports decreased by 4% and imports decreased by 2% in February, compared with the same period last year, According to Customs.
Finnish Customs released early data on the foreign trade of goods for February 2015. The value of Finnish exports reached nearly €4.2 billion and the value of imports was just under €4.4 billion.
The decline in imports was reportedly chiefly due to a drop in the value of crude oil. Iron, steel and chemical imports were also sluggish. Since the beginning of this year, imports from the EU fell by 6 percent in January and February while imports from outside the EU dropped by 11 percent.
Exports to EU countries rose in January by a percentage point, as imports from the EU fell by one percentage point. During that same time exports to outside the EU decreased by 10 percent and imports from outside the EU fell by four percent. The most significant areas of growth regarding imports came from the Netherlands, China and Denmark, while imports from Russia and Germany decreased.