HELSINKI: Finland’s current account and trade account. Source: Balance of payments and international investment position, Statistics Finland. The current account was slightly in deficit in March 2016 as exports of goods fell clearly from the corresponding period of 2015, according to Statistics Finland. Capital flowed to Finland, the data on balance of payments and international investment position show.
The current account showed a deficit of EUR 0.1 billion in March. Of the sub-items of the current account, the goods account in balance of payment terms was in balance. The 12-month moving total of the current account was EUR 0.4 billion in surplus. The exports of goods in balance of payment terms decreased to EUR 4.5 billion from EUR 5.0 billion in the year before. The exports of goods went down by 10 per cent and imports of goods by eight per cent. The services account showed a deficit of EUR 0.1 billion.
The primary income account was EUR 0.1 billion in surplus. The primary income account includes investment income like interest rates and dividends. The secondary income account was EUR 0.2 billion in deficit. In March 2016, the net capital inflow amounted to EUR 2.8 billion. Of the sub-items of the financial account, capital inflow was highest as other investments, which amounted to EUR 8.7 billion. Most outward capital flow on net was portfolio investments, EUR 6.1 billion as per the statistics.
Finland’s net international investment position was EUR -6.5 billion at the end of March as liabilities exceeded assets. The country had EUR 749.7 billion in foreign assets and EUR 756.3 billion in foreign liabilities.
