Statistics Finland will release preliminary foreign trade data for February on March 21 at 9:00 EET. The upcoming report is expected to show a deficit, continuing a trend driven by reduced exports to Russia and high energy imports. This situation is a recurring topic of economic concern in the country.
In January, Finland's trade deficit was 0.7 billion euros. Preliminary data for February from Finnish Customs shows the value of exports fell by 15 percent year-on-year. The value of imports also fell, but by a smaller margin of 9 percent. The chemical industry and metals sectors reported the largest drops in export value.
The ongoing restructuring of trade away from Russia remains a key factor in these figures. The slump in exports to Russia is a major driver of the overall decline, affecting specific industrial sectors more than others. The data reflects the continued economic adjustments following changes in international trade patterns.
High energy imports continue to contribute to the trade imbalance. The combination of lower export revenue and sustained import costs creates the deficit. These preliminary indicators suggest the February results will follow the concerning trend from January. The full details will be confirmed when Statistics Finland publishes the official data.