Trends in volume of exports and imports of goods, 3rd quarter 2018
Small increases in volume in both exports and imports of goods in third quarter
Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2018-11-27 9.30
Exports of goods from Sweden increased 3 percent in volume (value in constant prices) in the third quarter of 2018 compared with the third quarter of 2017. In the same period, imports of goods to Sweden increased 2 percent in volume.
In current prices, both exports and imports of goods increased by 13 percent in the same period. Differences between current and fixed prices can be explained by price increases and exchange rate effects.
Export volumes of wood and paper products decreased 6 percent
Exports of goods increased by 3 percent in volume in the third quarter of 2018 compared with the third quarter of 2017.
Exports of machinery and transport equipment increased by 8 percent in volume. Within this product area, exports of passenger cars increased by 22 percent. Exports of lorries/trucks decreased by 2 percent.
Exports of mineral fuels and electric current increased by 3 percent and chemical and rubber products decreased by 1 percent in volume.
Exports of minerals decreased in volume by 5 percent.
Exports of wood and paper products decreased by 6 percent.
Exports of other products increased in volume by 4 percent in the third quarter. Within this product area, exports of food/beverages/tobacco increased by 6 percent in volume.
Import volume of passenger cars decreased 23 percent
Imports of goods increased by 2 percent in volume in the third quarter of 2018 compared with the third quarter of 2017.
Imports of machinery and transport equipment increased by 1 percent in volume. Within this product area, the volume of imports of electronics/telecommunication increased by 13 percent, whereas passenger cars decreased by 23 percent in volume.
The import volume of mineral fuels and electric current increased by 1 percent in the third quarter. Within this product area, the volume of imports of crude petroleum oils increased by 3 percent.
Imports of chemical and rubber products increased by 4 percent in volume. Within this product area, the import volume of pharmaceutical products increased by 15 percent, whereas imports of plastics decreased by 1 percent.
Imports of wood and paper products increased by 3 percent and imports of minerals increased by 2 percent in the third quarter.
Imports of other products increased by 3 percent in volume. Within this product area, imports of food/beverages/tobacco increased by 6 percent.
| Change in % against corresponding period last year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume | Volume | Volume | Volume | Value | |
| Year 2017 | 2 q 2018 | 3 q 2018 | 1-3 q 2018 | 1-3 q 2018 | |
| Total | 4.8 | 5.6 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 10.5 |
| Wood and paper products | 2.2 | ‑2.3 | ‑5.9 | ‑3.6 | 9.4 |
| Wood | 4.2 | ‑4.1 | ‑7.1 | ‑4.5 | 8.8 |
| Pulp and waste paper | ‑0.9 | 2.0 | ‑5.8 | ‑1.3 | 23.8 |
| Paper, paperproducts | 2.3 | ‑2.9 | ‑6.0 | ‑4.0 | 6.8 |
| Minerals | 2.8 | ‑0.7 | ‑4.8 | ‑0.5 | 7.2 |
| Iron ore and concentrates | .. | .. | .. | .. | 2.1 |
| Iron and steel | 3.4 | ‑3.1 | ‑7.1 | ‑1.7 | 10.0 |
| Non-ferrous metals | 2.3 | 0.5 | ‑8.8 | ‑1.5 | 4.5 |
| Chemicals, rubber products | 4.6 | 4.0 | ‑1.1 | 3.0 | 4.8 |
| Organic/inorganic chemicals | 5.3 | ‑0.5 | ‑10.1 | ‑7.3 | ‑0.4 |
| Pharmaceuticals products | 5.0 | 8.6 | ‑0.5 | 9.0 | 5.2 |
| Plastics | 5.4 | ‑1.2 | ‑1.4 | ‑2.3 | 4.1 |
| Mineral fuels, electric current | 2.4 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 30.9 |
| Petroleum products | ‑3.9 | 1.0 | 9.9 | 2.2 | 30.8 |
| Machinery, transport equipment | 7.9 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 9.5 | 11.0 |
| Manufactures of metals | ‑1.1 | 5.5 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 8.2 |
| Industrial machinery | 6.7 | 3.3 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 9.3 |
| Electronics, telecommunication | 4.8 | 10.2 | 16.0 | 11.4 | 6.8 |
| Road vehicles | 17.8 | 15.1 | 8.7 | 14.7 | 18.2 |
| Passenger cars | 21.4 | 37.2 | 22.1 | 32.8 | 33.8 |
| Lorries, trucks [1] | 33.6 | 12.8 | ‑2.3 | 6.9 | 13.0 |
| Parts, accessories | 5.9 | ‑6.1 | ‑2.2 | ‑1.5 | 3.0 |
| Other transport equipment | ‑28.2 | 63.3 | ‑6.7 | 22.8 | 18.8 |
| Instruments, photo/optical products | ‑0.5 | ‑6.1 | ‑6.5 | ‑5.1 | 1.3 |
| Other products | ‑0.7 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 7.4 |
| Food, beverages, tobacco | ‑3.3 | 11.9 | 5.6 | 8.0 | 10.6 |
| Textiles, clothing, footwear | 2.7 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 5.5 |
| Furniture | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | ‑1.2 | 2.9 |
[1] Including road tractors for semi-trailers
| Change in % against corresponding period last year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume | Volume | Volume | Volume | Value | |
| Year 2017 | 2 q 2018 | 3 q 2018 | 1-3 q 2018 | 1-3 q 2018 | |
| Total | 4.1 | 8.4 | 2.1 | 5.5 | 12.2 |
| Wood and paper products | 4.4 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 16.3 |
| Minerals | 6.6 | 10.4 | 2.2 | 6.2 | 17.3 |
| Iron and steel | 11.5 | 11.3 | 1.6 | 9.6 | 22.3 |
| Non-ferrous metals | 3.6 | 8.1 | ‑3.4 | 0.2 | 13.4 |
| Metalliferrous ores, metal scrap | ‑5.3 | 18.2 | 8.1 | 1.8 | 14.6 |
| Chemicals, rubber products | 3.1 | 7.6 | 3.6 | 5.8 | 10.3 |
| Organic/inorganic chemicals | 2.1 | 1.9 | ‑6.1 | 4.4 | 14.5 |
| Pharmaceuticals products | ‑0.2 | 13.2 | 15.0 | 11.0 | 7.3 |
| Plastics | 4.7 | 6.5 | ‑0.6 | 3.5 | 10.9 |
| Crude rubber, rubber products | 8.1 | 6.1 | ‑2.0 | 2.1 | 6.8 |
| Mineral fuels, electric current | 0.0 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 33.1 |
| Crude petroleum oils | ‑0.5 | 8.2 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 40.9 |
| Petroleum products | 4.4 | ‑2.8 | ‑0.6 | ‑1.5 | 22.7 |
| Machinery, transport equipment | 6.4 | 10.7 | 1.1 | 7.1 | 9.8 |
| Manufactures of metals | 7.1 | 6.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 9.2 |
| Industrial machinery | 10.2 | 10.1 | 4.8 | 7.8 | 12.4 |
| Electronics, telecommunication | 3.9 | 12.9 | 13.4 | 13.7 | 13.2 |
| Road vehicles | 7.1 | 11.4 | ‑13.2 | 1.5 | 5.3 |
| Passenger cars | 3.2 | 6.8 | ‑23.0 | ‑4.0 | ‑1.5 |
| Parts and accessories | 11.9 | 15.2 | 3.7 | 11.1 | 17.3 |
| Other transport equipment | 3.1 | 3.0 | ‑50.4 | ‑7.1 | ‑2.6 |
| Instruments, photo/optical equip | 3.9 | 4.5 | ‑0.7 | 2.4 | 6.9 |
| Other products | 1.1 | 7.2 | 3.1 | 4.4 | 6.7 |
| Food, beverages, tobacco | ‑1.8 | 7.9 | 6.2 | 6.9 | 8.7 |
| Textiles, clothing, footwear | 2.5 | 11.6 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 5.3 |
| Furniture | 9.4 | 5.8 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 7.5 |
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
This report is published in more detail in a Statistical Report.
Next publishing will be
2019-02-27 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.