Provisional data of the Central Statistical Bureau show that in September 2018 the foreign trade turnover of Latvia amounted to EUR 2.42 billion, which at current prices was 5.1 % more than in September 2017.
The export value of goods was 1.0 % lower, but the import value of goods was 10.3 % higher.
In September, Latvia exported goods in the amount of EUR 1.03 billion, but imported in the amount of EUR 1.38 billion. As a result, compared to September 2017, the foreign trade balance has worsened as exports in total foreign trade amount decreased from 45.4 % to 42.8 %.
Over the first nine months of this year, the foreign trade turnover of Latvia at current prices reached EUR 20.49 billion – EUR 1.75 billion or 9.3 % more than in the corresponding period of 2017. The exports value constituted EUR 9.05 billion (an increase of EUR 695.0 million or 8.3 %), whereas the imports value – EUR 11.44 billion (an upturn of EUR 1.06 million or 10.2 %).
Calendar and seasonally adjusted data show that, compared to September 2017, in September 2018 the exports value at current prices went up by 4.5 % and the imports value by 17.6 %, whereas, compared to the previous month, the exports value decreased by 3.4 %, but the imports value increased by 2.3 %.
In September, the main export partners of Latvia in trade with EU countries were Lithuania (15.6 % of total exports), Estonia (10.7 %), Germany (7.4 %) and Sweden (7.1 %), whereas the main import partners were Lithuania (17.2 % of total imports), Germany (9.4 %), Poland (8.2 %) and Estonia (6.8 %).
The main partner in trade with third countries was Russia, share of which in total Latvian exports in September accounted for 9.1 %, but in imports – for 12.4 %.