To main content

Exports and imports of goods, January–December 2020, in current prices and in constant prices

Recovery in both exports and imports of goods in the fourth quarter

Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2021-02-26 9.30

In the period January–December 2020, the exports of goods decreased by 6 percent in value and by 1 percent in volume compared to the same period a year ago. At the same time, imports of goods fell by 9 percent in value and by 4 percent in volume. In the fourth quarter 2020, Swedish exports of goods decreased by 2 percent in value, while they increased by 5 percent in volume compared with the same period a year ago. Imports of goods decreased by 5 percent in value, while they increased by 2 percent in volume.

Summary

  • In the period January–December 2020, the value (in current prices) of Swedish exports of goods amounted to SEK 1 428 billion, a decrease of 6 percent compared with the same period a year ago. At the same time, the value of imports of goods decreased by 9 percent and amounted to SEK 1 374 billion.
  • In the period January–December 2020, exports of goods decreased by 1 percent, and imports of goods decreased by 4 percent in volume (in constant prices).
  • Net trade shows a surplus of SEK 54 billion in the period January–December 2020. In the same period in 2019, there was a net trade surplus of SEK 14 billion.
  • In the fourth quarter of 2020, Swedish exports of goods decreased by 2 percent in value, while in volume terms exports of goods increased by 5 percent, compared with the same period a year ago. Imports of goods decreased by 5 percent in value, while in volume terms they increased by 2 percent.
  • Compared with the previous quarter, Swedish exports of goods increased by 13 percent in both value and volume terms. At the same time, imports of goods increased by 13 percent in value and by 12 percent in volume.

Detailed information about January–December 2020 (current prices)

Imports of goods from Russia decreased by 66 percent

Sweden’s exports of goods to EU27 decreased by 7 percent and imports of goods from there decreased by 6 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Exports to the euro countries decreased by 8 percent, and imports from there decreased by 6 percent. Among the EU countries, exports to Germany fell by 5 percent, to Belgium by 17 percent, and to Finland by 8 percent. Imports from both Germany and Belgium decreased by 7 percent, and from Finland by 12 percent.

Exports to other European countries fell by 8 percent, and imports from there decreased by 15 percent. Exports to the United Kingdom decreased by 10 percent, and imports from there fell by 13 percent. Exports to Norway decreased by 6 percent, and imports from there fell by 5 percent. Exports to Russia decreased by 15 percent, and imports from there fell by 66 percent. In the period, imports of crude oil from Russia fell considerably.

Exports to Asia decreased by 1 percent, and imports from there fell by 10 percent. Exports to China increased by 9 percent, while imports from there fell by 8 percent. In the period, exports of minerals, mainly iron ore, accounted for the largest increase to China.

Both exports to and imports from the United States remained unchanged.

Exports of road vehicles fell by 15 percent

Exports of machinery and transport equipment decreased by 8 percent. Within this product area, exports of road vehicles fell by 15 percent. Exports of minerals decreased by 5 percent. Within this product area, exports of iron ore rose by 17 percent, while exports of iron/steel fell by 20 percent. Exports of wood and paper products decreased by 3 percent, and mineral fuels and electric current fell by 33 percent. Exports of chemicals and rubber products rose by 3 percent. Within this product area, exports of pharmaceutical products increased by 10 percent. Within the other products area, textiles/clothing/footwear increased by 8 percent.

Imports of iron/steel decreased by 21 percent

Imports of machinery and transport equipment decreased by 7 percent. Within this product area, imports of road vehicles fell by 14 percent. Imports of minerals decreased by 13 percent. Within this product area, imports of iron/steel fell by 21 percent. Imports of wood and paper products fell by 9 percent. Imports of chemicals and rubber products decreased by 1 percent. Within this product area, imports of pharmaceutical products increased by 9 percent, while imports of plastics and crude rubber/rubber products fell by 9 percent and 11 percent respectively. Imports of mineral fuels and electric current fell by 32 percent. Imports of other products fell by 3 percent.

Detailed information about the fourth quarter 2020 (in current prices and in constant prices)

Exports of mineral fuels and electric current decreased by 30 percent in value and increased by 3 percent in volume

In the fourth quarter, Sweden’s exports of goods decreased by 2 percent in value, while they increased by 5 percent in volume, compared with the corresponding period a year ago.

Exports of machinery and transport equipment increased by 1 percent in value and by 7 percent in volume. Within this product area, exports of passenger cars increased by 5 percent in value and by 22 percent in volume. Exports of mineral fuels and electric current decreased by 30 percent in value and increased by 3 percent in volume. The large difference between the value and volume trends is due to lower prices on petroleum products. Minerals increased by 9 percent in value and by 10 percent in volume. Chemical and rubber products decreased by 13 percent in value and by 6 percent in volume. Within this product area, exports of pharmaceutical products decreased by 22 percent in value and by 14 percent in volume. Exports of wood and paper products decreased by 1 percent in value and increased by 2 percent in volume. Within the other products area, exports of food/beverages/tobacco decreased by 2 percent in value, while they increased by 8 percent in volume.

Imports of crude petroleum oils decreased by 27 percent in value and increased by 12 percent in volume

In the fourth quarter, Sweden’s imports of goods decreased by 5 percent in value, while they increased by 2 percent in volume, compared with the corresponding period a year ago.

Imports of machinery and transport equipment decreased by 2 percent in value, while they increased by 1 percent in volume. Within this product area, imports of road vehicles remained unchanged in value and increased by 1 percent in volume. Imports of mineral fuels and electric current decreased by 33 percent in value, while they increased by 2 percent in volume. Within this product area, imports of crude petroleum oils decreased by 27 percent in value, while they increased by 12 percent in volume. The main difference between the value and volume trends is due to lower prices on crude petroleum oils. Imports of chemicals and rubber products decreased by 3 percent in value, while they increased by 2 percent in volume. Within this product area, imports of pharmaceutical products decreased by 11 percent in value and by 12 percent in volume. Imports of wood and paper products decreased by 6 percent in value and by 1 percent in volume, and minerals decreased by 2 percent in value, while they increased by 2 percent in volume. Within the other products area, imports of food/beverages/tobacco decreased by 6 percent in value, while they increased by 5 percent in volume. Textiles/clothing/footwear increased by 2 percent in value and by 7 percent in volume.

Value and volume trends

The value index and the volume index describe nominal and real value trends over time. The real value trends describe trends in which price changes have been removed. The indices are chain indices with base year 2015=100.

diagram

The value index for exports of goods in the fourth quarter 2020 has increased and is at the same level as the average for 2019. Export prices remain at the same level as in the previous quarter. The volume index has increased compared with the previous quarter and is now slightly higher than the level of the volume index in the first quarter 2020.

diagram

The value index for imports of goods increased in the fourth quarter and is now slightly lower than the level of the value index in the first quarter 2020. Import prices are slightly higher than in the previous quarter. The volume index continues to rise and is slightly higher than in the corresponding quarter a year ago.

  Exports Imports
  Value (current prices) Value (current prices)
Region January-December Share in % Change in % January-December Share in % Change in %
  2020 2019 2020 2020/2019 2020 2019 2020 2020/2019
Total 1 427 673 1 518 363 100.0 ‑6 1 373 775 1 503 524 100.0 ‑9
Europe 1 028 835 1 104 209 72.1 ‑7 1 160 501 1 257 787 84.5 ‑8
EU27_2020 744 504 796 615 52.1 ‑7 929 965 985 301 67.7 ‑6
EMU-19 561 228 611 090 39.3 ‑8 724 383 774 342 52.7 ‑6
EU28 817 943 878 574 57.3 ‑7 989 503 1 053 689 72.0 ‑6
Other European countries 284 330 307 593 19.9 ‑8 230 536 272 486 16.8 ‑15
Africa 27 487 28 596 1.9 ‑4 8 097 17 507 0.6 ‑54
North Africa 15 087 14 521 1.1 4 1 816 3 726 0.1 ‑51
West Africa 3 295 3 169 0.2 4 4 174 10 078 0.3 ‑59
Central, East and Southern Africa 9 105 10 905 0.6 ‑17 2 106 3 703 0.2 ‑43
America 158 428 164 857 11.1 ‑4 52 930 57 311 3.9 ‑8
North America 131 862 133 517 9.2 ‑1 43 627 43 319 3.2 1
Central and South America 26 566 31 341 1.9 ‑15 9 303 13 992 0.7 ‑34
Asia 190 986 192 182 13.4 ‑1 148 194 165 335 10.8 ‑10
Middle- and Near East 29 116 30 651 2.0 ‑5 5 428 6 548 0.4 ‑17
Other countries in Asia 161 870 161 531 11.3 0 142 766 158 787 10.4 ‑10
Oceania and Antarctica 17 738 19 623 1.2 ‑10 3 148 4 304 0.2 ‑27

  Exports
  Value (current prices) Value (current prices) Volume (value in constant prices) Value (current prices) Volume (value in constant prices)
      Share in % Change in % Change in % Change in % Change in %
Commodity group according to SITC January-December 2020 January-December 2019 January-December 2020 Q1-4 2020/Q1-4 2019 Q1-4 2020/Q1-4 2019 Q4 2020/Q4 2019 Q4 2020/Q4 2019
Total 1 427 673 1 518 363 100.0 ‑6 ‑1 ‑2 5
Wood and paper products 144 248 149 147 10.1 ‑3 3 ‑1 2
Wood 33 914 31 240 2.4 9 10 28 13
Pulp and waste paper 23 170 25 863 1.6 ‑10 8 ‑11 0
Paper, paperproducts 80 399 85 376 5.6 ‑6 ‑1 ‑8 ‑2
Minerals 144 772 152 303 10.1 ‑5 ‑1 9 10
Iron ore and concentrates 28 396 24 347 2.0 17 29 27 27
Iron and steel 56 151 70 172 3.9 ‑20 ‑14 ‑4 5
Non-ferrous metals 28 019 25 885 2.0 8 7 19 13
Chemicals, rubber products 220 772 214 560 15.5 3 5 ‑13 ‑6
Organic/inorganic chemicals 18 141 20 398 1.3 ‑11 ‑5 ‑25 ‑14
Pharmaceuticals products 115 189 105 178 8.1 10 12 ‑22 ‑14
Plastics 33 234 35 510 2.3 ‑6 ‑2 ‑4 2
Mineral fuels, electric current 69 389 103 725 4.9 ‑33 6 ‑30 3
Petroleum products 58 690 85 429 4.1 ‑31 ‑2 ‑29 ‑1
Machinery, transport equipment 636 501 690 855 44.6 ‑8 ‑7 1 7
Manufactures of metals 37 268 40 079 2.6 ‑7 ‑7 ‑2 1
Industrial machinery 206 197 223 701 14.4 ‑8 ‑8 0 4
Electronics, telecommunication 157 897 154 349 11.1 2 1 3 6
Road vehicles 191 225 224 709 13.4 ‑15 ‑11 4 16
Passenger cars 105 487 113 108 7.4 ‑7 0 5 22
Lorries, trucks[1] 24 337 32 472 1.7 ‑25 ‑23 12 19
Parts, accessories 49 178 64 697 3.4 ‑24 ‑23 0 3
Other transport equipment 8 155 12 596 0.6 ‑35 ‑36 ‑47 ‑44
Instruments, photo/optical products 35 760 35 419 2.5 1 2 ‑1 4
Other products 211 991 207 774 14.8 2 5 2 8
Food, beverages, tobacco 97 934 97 194 6.9 1 5 ‑2 8
Textiles, clothing, footwear 42 506 39 462 3.0 8 7 10 11
Furniture 19 873 20 499 1.4 ‑3 ‑4 2 2

  Imports
  Value (current prices) Value (current prices) Volume (value in constant prices) Value (current prices) Volume (value in constant prices)
      Share in % Change in % Change in % Change in % Change in %
Commodity group according to SITC January-December 2020 January-December 2019 January-December 2020 Q1-4 2020/Q1-4 2019 Q1-4 2020/Q1-4 2019 Q4 2020/Q4 2019 Q4 2020/Q4 2019
Total 1 373 775 1 503 524 100.0 ‑9 ‑4 ‑5 2
Wood and paper products 38 519 42 349 2.8 ‑9 ‑5 ‑6 ‑1
Minerals 97 509 112 175 7.1 ‑13 ‑10 ‑2 2
Iron and steel 39 346 50 020 2.9 ‑21 ‑16 ‑10 ‑4
Non-ferrous metals 19 439 21 929 1.4 ‑11 ‑7 0 5
Metalliferrous ores, metal scrap 14 749 15 183 1.1 ‑3 ‑2 21 16
Chemicals, rubber products 182 648 185 428 13.3 ‑1 1 ‑3 2
Organic/inorganic chemicals 36 965 38 584 2.7 ‑4 4 0 14
Pharmaceuticals products 51 256 47 189 3.7 9 5 ‑11 ‑12
Plastics 32 793 36 030 2.4 ‑9 ‑1 ‑6 2
Crude rubber, rubber products 15 562 17 498 1.1 ‑11 ‑10 0 7
Mineral fuels, electric current 107 540 158 980 7.8 ‑32 1 ‑33 2
Crude petroleum oils 51 940 76 790 3.8 ‑32 4 ‑27 12
Petroleum products 43 851 65 722 3.2 ‑33 ‑10 ‑46 ‑22
Machinery, transport equipment 615 838 664 223 44.8 ‑7 ‑7 ‑2 1
Manufactures of metals 46 326 49 458 3.4 ‑6 ‑5 1 6
Industrial machinery 145 124 159 115 10.6 ‑9 ‑9 ‑5 ‑1
Electronics, telecommunication 229 279 227 361 16.7 1 3 6 10
Road vehicles 149 526 174 275 10.9 ‑14 ‑15 0 1
Passenger cars 74 066 81 479 5.4 ‑9 ‑11 0 ‑1
Parts and accessories 49 228 61 316 3.6 ‑20 ‑19 0 3
Other transport equipment 8 433 16 888 0.6 ‑50 ‑50 ‑72 ‑70
Instruments, photo/optical equip 37 148 37 127 2.7 0 ‑1 4 7
Other products 331 720 340 368 24.1 ‑3 ‑1 ‑2 6
Food, beverages, tobacco 159 313 163 992 11.6 ‑3 0 ‑6 5
Textiles, clothing, footwear 78 598 82 693 5.7 ‑5 ‑5 2 7
Furniture 24 449 25 035 1.8 ‑2 ‑2 ‑1 5

Definitions and explanations

The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union has led to the replacement of the former EU28 group in the country tables for foreign trade in goods with the EU27_2020 group. This change applies to country tables with data reported as from January 2020. The cutoff point is January 2020, rather than the actual withdrawal month February 2020, since the values in the tables are based on accumulated periods starting from January. In this text, the term EU27 is used.

Publication

This report is published in more detail in the statistical report:

Foreign trade – Exports and imports of goods January–December 2020 (pdf)

Next publishing will be

2021-05-27 at 09:30.

Statistical Database

More information is available in the Statistical Database

Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.

Statistical agency and producer

Statistics Sweden, Foreign trade and balance of payments

Address
Solna strandväg 86
171 54 Solna

Enquiries

Maria Adolfsson

Telephone
+46 10 479 47 25
E-mail
maria.adolfsson@scb.se

Maria Rodriguez Hjalmarsson

Telephone
+46 10 479 50 00
E-mail
maria.rodriguezhjalmarsson@scb.se