Baltic trade in November 2025: imports outpace exports across the region

November 2025 data from national statistical offices show a common pattern across the Baltics: imports are growing faster than exports in all three countries.

Latvia recorded a decline in exports alongside rising imports, Lithuania maintained modest export growth but widened its trade deficit, while Estonia showed headline export growth driven largely by energy-related flows rather than domestic-origin goods.

Despite differences in scale and structure, the region shares several key signals: pressure on trade balances, weakening agricultural and food exports, and a growing role of energy and industrial inputs in shaping monthly trade dynamics.

🇱🇻 Latvia — foreign trade, November 2025

Core facts

• Exports: €1.55 bn (-5.6% YoY)

• Imports: €1.88 bn (+7.4% YoY)

• Trade balance: about -€0.33 bn

• Export share in total trade fell from 48.5% → 45.2%

What drove the numbers

• Export growth concentrated in energy-related items:

◦ mineral products +25.7% YoY

◦ electricity and natural gas were the key drivers

• Traditional pillars weakened:

◦ wood and wood products -12%

◦ plant products -19.9%

◦ grain exports hit especially hard (wheat -52.9%)

Imports

• Broad-based growth across almost all major groups:

◦ machinery & electrical equipment +14.9%

◦ mineral products +9.7%

◦ transport equipment +9.3%

• Consumption signal inside imports: rise in electronics and alcoholic beverages.

Partners

• Exports: Lithuania, Estonia, Germany, Sweden

• Imports: Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Estonia

Latvia takeaway

Latvia shows the sharpest imbalance in November: falling exports combined with strong import growth. Export support came mainly from energy flows, while agriculture and wood — structurally important sectors — weakened.

🇱🇹 Lithuania — international trade in goods, November 2025

Core facts

• Exports: €3.12 bn (+1.4% YoY)

• Imports: €3.63 bn (+3.1% YoY)

• Trade deficit: -€510.4 m

• Over the month: both exports and imports declined vs October

Structure

• Exports supported by:

◦ mineral fuels and oils (+20% YoY)

◦ fertilizers (+31.3% YoY)

• Imports driven by:

◦ mineral products

◦ machinery and mechanical appliances

Longer view (Jan–Nov 2025)

• Exports: -0.8% YoY

• Imports: +4.4% YoY

• Deficit widened significantly compared with 2024.

Partners

• Exports: Latvia, Poland, Germany

• Imports: Poland, Germany, Latvia

• High share of goods of Lithuanian origin (≈69%) — still a structural strength.

Lithuania takeaway

Lithuania remains the largest trading economy in the Baltics, but the gap between imports and exports continues to widen. Growth is industry- and energy-linked, not consumption-driven alone.

🇪🇪 Estonia — foreign trade, November 2025

Core facts

• Exports: €1.61 bn (+3% YoY)

• Imports: €1.91 bn (+7% YoY)

• Trade deficit: -€298 m (wider by €72 m YoY)

Exports

• Strongest growth:

◦ mineral products (incl. shale oil and gas) +68% YoY

• Declines:

◦ agricultural products and food preparations -13%

• Goods of Estonian origin:

◦ -1% YoY

◦ share fell to 63% (seasonality + structure)

Imports

• Biggest increase:

◦ mineral products (+57% YoY, incl. electricity and gas)

• Transport equipment imports fell sharply due to high base in 2024.

Partners

• Exports: Finland, Latvia, Sweden

• Imports: Finland, Latvia, Germany, Lithuania

Estonia takeaway

Estonia shows export growth on paper, but driven largely by energy and re-exports, while domestic-origin exports softened.

Baltic region — what is common, what is different

What is common

1. Imports grow faster than exports in all three countries.

2. Energy-related products (electricity, gas, mineral fuels) are the main positive driver across the region.

3. Agriculture and food-related exports weaken everywhere in November.

4. Trade balances deteriorate simultaneously, signalling regional rather than country-specific pressure.

Key differences

• Latvia: weakest export performance; strongest pressure from declining traditional sectors (wood, grains).

• Lithuania: largest scale, more industrial structure, but structural deficit widening over the year.

• Estonia: export growth headline-positive, but domestic-origin exports stagnate, energy dominates dynamics.

Context (why this matters)

November data confirms a broader Baltic trend:

the region is importing growth faster than it is exporting value.

Energy flows and industrial inputs support short-term trade volumes, but do not compensate for weakening agricultural, wood and food exports. If this pattern persists into winter and early 2026, trade balances will remain under pressure despite stable or even growing nominal turnover.

Source: (CSP Latvia; Statistics Lithuania; Statistics Estonia)