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Published: 24 April 2006

Strong growth resumed in foreign trade of high technology products

The value of Finnish exports of high technology products rose to close on EUR 11.2 billon in 2005, having increased by EUR 2.6 billion, or good 30 per cent, from the year before. At the same time, the value returned to almost the peak level it reached in 2000. High technology products accounted for 21.3 per cent of all Finnish exports. Imports of high technology products also went up by 30 per cent, reaching the record value of EUR 7.3 billion. The value of imports rose by EUR 1.7 billion and high technology products accounted for 15.7 per cent of all imports.

The share of electronics and telecommunications equipment again exceeded 80 per cent of the total value of exports of high technology products, and amounted to EUR 9 billion. In the course of 2005, the value of exports of this product group went up by nearly one-third from the previous year. Scientific instruments were also exported to a value approaching EUR 1 billion. Measured by value (EUR 45 million), the third largest group of export goods was computers and office machinery, where the growth of exports, approaching 50 per cent, was also strongest among the large product groups.

As with exports, electronics and telecommunications equipment was also the largest group of imported products with its value of EUR 3.8 billion and share of imports exceeding more than one-half. Computers and office machinery were imported to the value of EUR 1.4 billion. Likewise, both electrical machinery and scientific instruments were major product groups both of which were imported to a value approaching EUR 600 million. Imports of electronics and telecommunications equipment went up by nearly EUR 1.2 billion. By comparison, imports of aerospace products almost doubled, so they showed the fastest growth in relative terms.

The balance in Finland's foreign trade in high technology products has been strongly positive for a decade. In 2005, the surplus exceeded EUR 3.8 billion, and was nearly EUR 1 billion up on 2004. The export-import ratio remained unchanged at 1.52.

Values of exports and imports of high technology products and their shares of Finland's total exports and imports in 1996-2005

Source: National Board of Customs; High technology foreign trade, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mr Tero Luhtala +358 9 1734 3327, Mr Markku Virtaharju +358 9 1734 3290, tiede.teknologia@stat.fi

Director in charge: Ms Kaija Hovi

Tables

Appendix tables

• Breakdown of Finnish foreign trade in high technology products and export-import ratio in 2004 and 2005 by country group (24.4.2006)
• Finnish high technology exports and imports as a proportion of total exports and imports in 1991-2005 (24.4.2006)
• Foreign trade in Finnish high technology products by product group in 2000-2005 (24.4.2006)
• High technology exports and imports: Finland's main trade partners in 2005 (24.4.2006)
• High technology product groups as a proportion of total Finnish high technology exports and imports and the export-import ratio for product groups in 2004 and 2005 (24.4.2006)

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Last updated 24.4.2006