Export prices down by 0.5 per cent in February

Export prices fell by 0.5 per cent from January to February. This was explained by the price falls in paper and paperboard as well as furskins. This information can be gathered from the Export Price Index of Statistics Finland.

In the year to February export prices have fallen by 5.3 per cent. The fall was attributable to the lower prices of paper and paperboard, pulp, base metals and furskins. The prices of paper and paperboard have fallen by a good 10 per cent and that of pulp by about 27 per cent compared to February of last year.

Import prices fell by 0.2 per cent from January to February, due to cheaper crude oil. In the year to February, in contrast, they rose by 1.6 per cent.

The HWWA index, which measures the dollar prices of raw materials on the world market, fell by 7.5 per cent from January to February. The fall was accounted for by cheaper energy raw materials. In the year to February the HWWA index was up by a good 7 per cent.

Source: Producer Price Indices, February 1997
Further information: Jarmo Ranki +358 9 1734 3472, Anne Forss +358 9 1734 3469