The exports value comprised EUR 12.34 billion (an increase of EUR 833.9 million or 7.2 %), whereas the imports value – EUR 15.46 billion (an upturn of EUR 1.42 billion or 10.1 %).
In December 2018 the foreign trade turnover of Latvia amounted to EUR 2.15 billion, which at current prices was 0.4 % less than in December 2017, of which the exports value of goods was 1.3 % lower, but imports value of goods was 0.3 % higher. In December, Latvia exported goods in the amount of EUR 943.7 million but imported – in the amount of EUR 1.2 billion. Compared to December 2017, foreign trade balance has worsened as exports in total foreign trade amount decreased from 44.4 % to 44 %.
However, calendar and seasonally adjusted data show that, compared to December 2017, in December 2018 the exports value at current prices went up by 3.6 % and the imports value by 6.2 %, whereas, compared to the previous month, the exports value decreased by 0.7 %, but the imports value increased by 3.4 %.
In December, the main export partners of Latvia in trade with EU countries were Lithuania (16 % of total exports), Estonia (12.2 %), Sweden (7 %) and Denmark (5.7 %), whereas the main import partners were Lithuania (16 % of total imports), Germany (10.9 %), Poland (9 %) and Estonia (7.8 %).
Russia was the main partner in trade with third countries; its share in total Latvian exports in December accounted for 10.6 %, whereas in imports – for 8.4 %.
