Analytics, Foreign trade , Latvia

The value of agricultural and food product imports in this period comprised 245.2 mln lats (at current prices) compared to 195.2 mln lats in the first 3 months of previous year. Of which the value of imports of food products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and tobacco products reached 120.2 mln lats (106.3 mln lats in January – March 2007).

Compared to January – March 2007, both exports of agricultural and food product and exports of food products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and tobacco products (at current prices) increased slightly faster than their imports. In January – March 2008 the share in the exports of Latvian food products was significant in our neighbouring countries – Lithuania and Estonia— 26.6% and 14.8%, respectively, but in imports – 21.8% and 10.1%. In the trade with Lithuania the exports of these commodities increased by 31.7%, but the imports- only by 6.7%, in its turn, in the trade with Estonia the exports decreased by 18.3%, but imports- increased by 31.4%.

Compared to January – March 2007, in the same period this year the exports value of agricultural and food products (at current prices) increased by 51.2% (rate in total exports 15.4%), of which the exports of food products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and tobacco products – by 25.1%.

Exports of main food products in January – March 2008

Different milk products were mainly exported to the EU countries– 84.0% values at current prices:

- milk, cream, other cultured products – 91.6% (to Lithuania – 81.4%, Estonia – 3.0%, France – 1.6%),

- cheese and curd–64.5%(to Germany – 40.1%, Estonia – 10.1%, Italy – 4.7%). Moreover, 25.9% of cheese and curd were exported to Russia,

- butter–99.0%(to Germany – 81.6%, Italy – 12.7%, Estonia – 4.3%).

69.7% of fresh and frozen fish were exported to the EU.The main partners were Lithuania (24.8%), Estonia (20.6%), and France (11.2%). Moreover, 16.9% of fresh and frozen fish were exported to the Belarus.

47.3% of prepared or preserved fish were exported to the EU (to Estonia – 22.3%, Lithuania – 5.9%, Germany – 5.4%). 24.9% of prepared or preserved fish were exported to Russia and 10.5% – to the United States of America.

The main partner of vodka export was the United States of America – 38.7% of the total vodka export. 22.9% were exported to Cyprus and 11.5%- to Canada.

59.5% of beer was exported to the EU (to Lithuania – 44.6%, Estonia – 9.9%). Some part of the beer was exported also to Russia – 38.3% of total beer export.

The cigarettes were mainly exported to the EU countries – 95.2% (to Lithuania – 71.3%, Denmark – 16.2%, Estonia – 3.3%).

Compared to January – March 2007, in the same period this year the imports value of agricultural and food products (at current prices) increased by 25.6% (rate in total imports 13.2%), of which the imports of food products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and tobacco products – by 13.0%.

Imports of main food products in January – March 2008

Most of the agricultural and food product value (at current prices) – 86.8%, were imported from the EU countries.

The meat of swine was mainly imported from Poland – 28.7%, Germany – 21.5%, Estonia – 19.7%, Denmark – 9.6%.

The poultry was mainly imported from Lithuania – 25.7%, Netherlands – 23.7%, Poland – 14.0% and Denmark – 12.7%.

Fresh and frozen fish were imported from Sweden – 36.2%, Lithuania – 14.1% and Denmark – 8.9%. Moreover, 19.0% of fresh and frozen fish were imported from Norway.

Milk, cream and milk products were mainly imported from Estonia – 34.5%, Lithuania – 28.8%, Poland – 18.2% and Germany – 10.1%.

The sugar was mainly imported from Lithuania – 46.5%, Poland – 34.8%, Estonia – 12.4% and Denmark – 2.2%.

Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa were imported from Lithuania – 22.2%, Poland – 16.3%, Estonia – 15.7% and Finland – 9.5%.

Non-alcoholic beverages containing added sugar matter were imported from Estonia – 39.6%, also from Poland – 11.3%, Lithuania – 11.2% and Hungary – 7.9%.

Wine of fresh grapes was mainly imported from France – 38.9%, Italy – 12.7%, Spain – 11.7% and Germany – 9.6%.

Beer was mainly imported from Estonia – 42.0%, Lithuania – 27.1%, less from Czech Republic – 6.8%. Some part of the beer was imported also from Russia – 11.2% of total beer imports.

Cigarettes were mainly imported from Lithuania – 58.9%, Poland – 20.9%, Germany – 5.7% and Romania – 4.2%. 4.5% of cigarettes were imported from Turkey.

In January – March 2008, compared to the same period of 2007, the imports value of oil and oil products (at current prices) increased by 36.0 mln lats or 33.4%, of which of diesel oil – by 26.3 mln lats or 46.9%, of motor spirit – by 5.6 mln lats or 17.3% and of residual fuel – by 0.6 mln lats or 8.7%.

Fuel imports in January – March 2008

The most of the diesel oil value (at current prices) was imported from Lithuania – 43.8% and the Belarus – 43.1%, but from Russia – 13.1%.

The motor spirits were mostly imported from Lithuania– 90.6%. The rest was imported from Norway – 9.0%, Belarus – 0.3% and Great Britain – 0.1%.

The motor spirits were mostly imported from the Belarus – 33.8%, Estonia – 32.1% and Russia – 31.0%, but from Great Britain – 2.7%, and from Kazakhstan – 0.4%.