Lithuania flag Lithuania: Economic and Political Overview

Foreign trade figures of Lithuania

Foreign Trade in Figures

Lithuania is a very open economy, with foreign trade representing 176% of GDP (World Bank, latest data available). According to Statistics Lithuania, in 2022, the majority of exports comprised mineral products (16.9%), chemical and allied industries (12.3%), and machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment (11.5%). On the other hand, imports were predominantly mineral products (28.5%), machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment (14.8%), and products of the chemical and allied industries (11.3%).

In 2022, imports came chiefly from Poland (11.7%), Germany (11.6%), and Latvia (7.9%), while the main export partners were Germany (9.7%), Poland (9%), Latvia (8.7%), the United States (7.8%), and the Netherlands (7.5%). The majority of goods were exported to EU member states, accounting for 62.2% of total exports from Lithuania. Similarly, the largest proportion of imports also originated from EU member states, constituting 63.3% of total imports to Lithuania (data Statistics Lithuania).

The country's merchandise trade balance has historically been in deficit, which can largely be explained by the energy imports and, particularly, by the large amount of gas Lithuania imports from Russia. In 2021, Lithuania exported goods worth USD 46.3 billion, with imports amounting to USD 54.9 billion. Compared to the previous year before, exports increased by 13.8% and imports by 22.2% (data WTO). However, the balance of services is generally positive: in 2022, exports stood at EUR 18.3 billion (+14.1%) as imports grew at a faster pace, to EUR 12 billion (+24.5% y-o-y – WTO). The country’s overall trade balance in goods and services was estimated to be negative by 2% of GDP in 2022 (World Bank). Between January and October this year, the value of Lithuania's exports decreased by 9.6% to EUR 33.16 billion, whereas imports dropped by 13.8% to EUR 37.49 billion, as reported by Statistics Lithuania.

 
Foreign Trade Values 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 35,75933,32944,48855,09548,436
Exports of Goods (million USD) 33,15132,80540,70646,48542,639
Imports of Services (million USD) 7,7406,7279,59811,98513,336
Exports of Services (million USD) 13,28212,48516,03218,26021,164

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20182019202020212022
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 148.6149.3137.0156.5177.1
Trade Balance (million USD) -3,367-2,634-451-3,414-7,688
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) 9592,9045,3073,020-1,384
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 6.06.0-4.519.912.3
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 6.810.10.417.011.9
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 73.472.063.976.089.5
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 75.277.373.280.587.6

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20232024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) -4.83.64.14.94.8
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) -6.64.74.95.25.2

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
Lithuania is member of the European Union since 2004 and has close ties with nearby Baltic and Eastern European countries. It is well integrated in the international trade system and is party to a number of agreements.
 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
Latvia 10.8%
Poland 9.3%
Germany 7.8%
Netherlands 5.9%
Estonia 5.5%
See More Countries 60.8%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
Germany 13.8%
Poland 13.2%
Latvia 8.1%
United States 6.4%
Netherlands 5.4%
See More Countries 53.0%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

42.6 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 12.0%
Furniture and parts thereof, n.e.s. (excl. seats...Furniture and parts thereof, n.e.s. (excl. seats and medical, surgical, dental or veterinary furniture) 4.6%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 3.0%
Wheat and meslinWheat and meslin 2.4%
Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes of...Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes 1.8%
See More Products 76.2%
48.4 bn USD of products imported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 12.1%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 4.7%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 4.0%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 2.8%
Tractors (other than tractors of heading 8709)Tractors (other than tractors of heading 8709) 2.5%
See More Products 73.9%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.

 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Latest Update: November 2024