Trends in volume of exports and imports of goods, 1st quarter 2018:
Continued strong export volume of goods in the first quarter
Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2018-05-28 9.30
Both exports of goods from Sweden and imports of goods to Sweden increased in volume (value in constant prices) 6 percent in the first quarter of 2018, compared with the same quarter of 2017.
In the same period, current prices increased by 7 percent for exports and by 8 percent for imports.
Increased export volume of passenger cars
Exports from Sweden increased in volume by 6 percent in the first quarter of 2018, compared to the same quarter of 2017.
Export volume of machinery and transport equipment increased by 11 percent in the first quarter. Within this product area, exports of passenger cars increased by 38 percent and lorries by 9 percent.
Mineral fuels and electric current decreased by 2 percent in volume. Chemical and rubber products increased by 6 percent. Within this product area, pharmaceutical products increased by 18 percent.
Minerals increased in export volume by 4 percent, and within this product group, iron and steel increased by 5 percent.
The exports of wood and paper products decreased by 3 percent in volume.
The export volume of other products decreased by 1 percent. Within this product area, exports of food, beverages and tobacco increased by 7 percent, while textiles, clothing and footwear fell by 4 percent.
Increased import volume of electronics and telecommunication
Imports of goods increased by 6 percent in volume in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the first quarter of 2017.
Imports of machinery and transport equipment increased by 9 percent in volume. Within this product area, electronics and telecommunication increased by 15 percent, and parts and accessories increased by 14 percent.
The import volume of mineral fuels and electric current was unchanged in the first quarter.
As regards chemical and rubber products, the import volume increased by 6 percent. Within this product area, organic/inorganic chemicals increased by 19 percent while the import increased by 5 percent for pharmaceutical products.
Imports of wood and paper products and minerals increased by 1 percent and 6 percent, respectively, in the first quarter.
Imports of other products increased by 3 percent in volume. Within this product area, the import volume of food, beverages and tobacco increased by 7 percent.
| Change in % against corresponding period last year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume | Volume | Volume | Volume | Value | |
| Year 2017 | 3 q 2017 | 4 q 2017 | 1 q 2018 | 1 q 2018 | |
| Total | 4.9 | 5.2 | 6.7 | 5.6 | 7.1 |
| Wood and paper products | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.8 | ‑2.7 | 6.0 |
| Wood | 4.2 | 0.5 | 10.2 | ‑2.5 | 5.8 |
| Pulp and waste paper | ‑0.9 | 5.3 | ‑0.3 | 0.1 | 15.7 |
| Paper, paperproducts | 2.2 | 1.2 | ‑0.5 | ‑3.2 | 4.4 |
| Minerals | 3.9 | 9.1 | 1.4 | 3.9 | 8.9 |
| Iron ore and concentrates | .. | .. | .. | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Iron and steel | 3.5 | 9.0 | 3.4 | 5.2 | 11.5 |
| Non-ferrous metals | 6.3 | 21.9 | ‑9.9 | 4.0 | 9.0 |
| Chemicals, rubber products | 4.6 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 5.7 | 4.3 |
| Organic/inorganic chemicals | 5.4 | 0.8 | 7.6 | ‑11.0 | ‑8.3 |
| Pharmaceuticals products | 5.0 | ‑0.3 | 0.7 | 17.6 | 10.0 |
| Plastics | 5.0 | 3.4 | 8.6 | ‑4.2 | ‑1.3 |
| Mineral fuels, electric current | 2.2 | 4.1 | 9.6 | ‑2.1 | 5.4 |
| Petroleum products | ‑4.1 | ‑2.2 | ‑5.4 | ‑4.5 | 1.9 |
| Machinery, transport equipment | 7.9 | 8.4 | 10.8 | 11.0 | 10.3 |
| Manufactures of metals | ‑0.9 | ‑0.2 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 4.1 |
| Industrial machinery | 6.7 | 3.6 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 10.0 |
| Electronics, telecommunication | 4.8 | 5.6 | 6.2 | 7.4 | 3.0 |
| Road vehicles | 18.0 | 23.2 | 24.7 | 19.4 | 19.4 |
| Passenger cars | 21.4 | 36.0 | 30.3 | 38.5 | 33.8 |
| Lorries, trucks [1] | 33.6 | 36.5 | 46.7 | 9.1 | 11.4 |
| Parts, accessories | 6.4 | 2.9 | 7.3 | 3.5 | 6.8 |
| Other transport equipment | ‑28.9 | ‑11.0 | ‑44.8 | 1.0 | ‑5.9 |
| Instruments, photo/optical products | ‑0.3 | ‑1.8 | ‑3.5 | ‑2.7 | 0.5 |
| Other products | ‑0.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | ‑1.2 | ‑0.5 |
| Food, beverages, tobacco | ‑3.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 6.9 | 4.3 |
| Textiles, clothing, footwear | 2.6 | ‑0.2 | ‑0.1 | ‑3.8 | 0.0 |
| Furniture | 1.8 | 3.3 | ‑2.4 | ‑4.6 | 0.5 |
[1] Including road tractors for semi-trailers
| Change in % against corresponding period last year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume | Volume | Volume | Volume | Value | |
| Year 2017 | 3 q 2017 | 4 q 2017 | 1 q 2018 | 1q 2018 | |
| Total | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 8.0 |
| Wood and paper products | 4.6 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 11.3 |
| Minerals | 6.2 | 4.0 | 11.0 | 6.4 | 13.5 |
| Iron and steel | 11.0 | 7.4 | 14.5 | 16.2 | 26.3 |
| Non-ferrous metals | 3.0 | 11.5 | 7.3 | ‑2.5 | 5.9 |
| Metalliferrous ores, metal scrap | ‑5.4 | ‑13.6 | 5.4 | ‑17.4 | ‑11.9 |
| Chemicals, rubber products | 2.9 | 5.2 | 3.2 | 6.4 | 8.2 |
| Organic/inorganic chemicals | 1.7 | 10.7 | ‑7.5 | 19.2 | 20.6 |
| Pharmaceuticals products | ‑0.5 | ‑1.5 | 0.6 | 5.4 | 3.0 |
| Plastics | 4.4 | 6.0 | 8.8 | 4.6 | 10.4 |
| Crude rubber, rubber products | 7.9 | 10.4 | 12.6 | 0.5 | 5.3 |
| Mineral fuels, electric current | ‑0.2 | ‑7.1 | ‑2.4 | 0.2 | 11.4 |
| Crude petroleum oils | ‑1.0 | ‑6.8 | ‑5.6 | ‑1.2 | 12.0 |
| Petroleum products | 4.5 | ‑7.0 | 5.4 | ‑0.8 | 5.5 |
| Machinery, transport equipment | 6.2 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 9.1 | 9.5 |
| Manufactures of metals | 6.7 | 6.6 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 6.0 |
| Industrial machinery | 9.7 | 9.7 | 14.2 | 8.4 | 10.3 |
| Electronics, telecommunication | 3.8 | 0.8 | 7.3 | 14.8 | 11.1 |
| Road vehicles | 7.0 | 8.7 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 7.1 |
| Passenger cars | 3.2 | 1.6 | ‑3.7 | 0.7 | 2.5 |
| Parts and accessories | 11.6 | 18.6 | 22.1 | 14.3 | 18.9 |
| Other transport equipment | 2.3 | 62.9 | ‑35.5 | 33.8 | 36.8 |
| Instruments, photo/optical equip | 3.8 | 2.8 | 7.1 | 2.9 | 4.8 |
| Other products | 1.2 | 1.7 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 1.2 |
| Food, beverages, tobacco | ‑1.8 | ‑1.1 | 2.9 | 6.5 | 3.1 |
| Textiles, clothing, footwear | 2.8 | 4.0 | 5.4 | 1.2 | ‑1.6 |
| Furniture | 9.4 | 9.1 | 10.5 | 2.7 | 3.7 |
Definitions and explanations
Volume changes (value changes in constant prices) are calculated on a quarterly basis. The calculations are based on foreign trade statistics’ values in current prices for different product groups, and on information on price changes taken mainly from Statistics Sweden’s calculations for the export and import price indices. The foreign trade statistics are based on total export and import values for different product categories, that is, the values are estimated to account for undercoverage and non-response that occur in the statistics on trade with EU countries. The calculations are done as chain indices for the different product areas, with the base year 2015 (=100). The volume index is calculated using Laspeyres’ formula, and the price index is calculated using Paasche’s formula. Information on the current year and the most recent year is regularly revised, depending on revisions of the underlying foreign trade material, with values expressed in current prices. Information on price changes may also occasionally be revised.
Change of base year
In connection with the publication of the first quarter of 2018 (on 28 May 2018), the base year for the calculation of volume index was changed. The new base year is 2015 (2015=100). The change of base year does not affect the differences in development in the tables above, but it affects the index figures published in the Statistical Database and the statistical report. In these tables, the index figures according to SPIN and SITC use the new base year. Earlier tables, using the base year 2000, are no longer updated.
New product classification
Trends in volume of exports and imports of goods are reported according to SPIN in the Statistical Database. As of the first quarter of 2018, SPIN 2015 is used.
The differences in nomenclature are minor, and most changes are at the division level in sections A–E.
Publication
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2018-08-28 at 09:30.
Statistical Database
More information is available in the Statistical Database
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