China’s share of Finnish goods trade shrank slightly in the first half of this year

Finnish Customs reports that the value of goods exports to China in the first six months of 2025 amounted to roughly 1.7 billion euros, closely matching the export performance of a year earlier (up 0.5 % y-o-y). The value of Finnish goods exports overall in 1H25 rose by 3.5 %. China’s share of the value of total Finnish exports averaged 4.7% in January-June, slightly less than at the end 2024.

The value of Finland’s exports to China of various types of cellulose pulp rose by 22 % in the first half of the year representing 36 % of Finland’s total goods exports to China. The value of exports in the “machinery and mechanical appliances” category rose by 11 % and their share also increased to 22 %. In contrast, the value of exports in the “electrical machinery and electronics” category contracted by 4 % and their share declined to 10 %. The value of goods exports in the “optical, measurement and medical equipment” category fell by 14 % y-o-y, and accounted for a share of slightly less than 8 % of total exports.

The value of goods imported from China to Finland in January-June amount to roughly 3.4 billion euros, a decline of nearly 4 % y-o-y. At the same time, Finland’s goods imports overall fell by just 0.9 %, including a slight shrinking of China’s share of Finnish goods imports (1H25 share was about 9 %). The largest import category, “electrical machinery & equipment,” contracted 17 %, with its share of imports falling from 40 % to 35 %. The first-half goods trade deficit was 1.7 billion euros, slightly smaller than the 1H24 deficit (1.9 billion euros). Some of the reduction in the value of imports represented declining prices: China’s official figures show exports prices in January-June were down by about 2 % y-o-y.

The amount of low-value online orders (less than 150 euros) by private individuals from merchants outside the EU has exploded in recent years. Finnish Customs reports the value of such orders in the first six months of 2025 totalled 109 million euros, of which China’s share exceeded 91 %. The value of such orders from China totalled 100 million euros, a 5 % increase from the second half of 2024. Orders from China averaged 6 euros apiece, far less than orders from elsewhere. For example, the average orders were about 31 euros from the UK, 43 euros from the US and 16 euros from Singapore.

The value of Finland’s services exports to China contracted by roughly a third in the first half to around 730 million euros. The sharp drop reflects last year’s exceptionally high reference basis: the value of services exports in the first half of 2024 soared due to retroactive licencing fees (BOFIT Weekly 10/2025). The value of services imports from China fell by just over 1 % to around 570 million euros. Despite declining exports, Finland’s services trade with China remained positive, posting a first-half surplus of about 160 million euros.

China’s share of Finnish goods trade contracted in the first half of this year

Sources: Finnish Customs and BOFIT.