Finnish food is exported mostly to the EU internal market, with dairy products leading the way.
According to foreign trade statistics, the value of Finnish food exports remained high in 2023, at 2.2 billion euros. Compared to 2019, this is an increase of 23 percent (450 million euros). During the same period, the volume of exports has slightly decreased, so the growth has mainly come from increased processing and higher prices.
Compared to 2022, the value of exports slightly decreased in 2023, but the volume increased.
Economist Bate Ismail (Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation ETL) calculates that the average price per kilogram of processed food products was 2.27 euros last year, compared to 1.90 euros in 2019. This price does not include agricultural products, so it can be said that export prices for the food industry have risen significantly.
In the past five years, the biggest changes in Finland’s food exports have been the growth in exports to EU countries. Exports have grown the most to Sweden, Estonia, Germany, and Poland. Exports to Estonia have increased by as much as 58 percent since 2019.
Dairy products are the largest export product group, accounting for about one-fifth of Finland’s total food exports. Most dairy products are exported to Sweden and China.
Finland also exports significant amounts of fish products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and meat products. Of these, only alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages increased their export value last year.
Of the four largest food export destinations, Sweden imported the most dairy products and sweets from Finland. Estonia imported alcoholic beverages, fish, and meat. Germany clearly imported the most grain and bakery products. Poland imported the most fish, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and dairy products.
In 2023, the value of food imports to Finland slightly decreased to 5.7 billion euros from the previous year’s 5.9 billion euros. The value decreased especially in agricultural product imports but increased in processed food imports. Compared to 2019, imports have grown by a billion euros, but the volume has decreased in both processed foods and agricultural products.
Most food products are imported from EU countries and Norway, covering almost 80 percent of total imports. The largest food importing countries are Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Norway.
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