Estonia - Agriculture Estonia - Agriculture
Overview
The Estonian food market holds potential for imports of a wide range of high-value packaged goods targeted to higher and middle income level groups, increasing numbers of tourists and a growing expatriate community. The fast-developing consolidation of retail outlets through investment by large Scandinavian chains may provide new opportunities for exporters who can successfully connect with these companies. Products packaged and targeted at the hotel-restaurant sector such as desserts and beverages are growing in popularity. There are long established consumer preferences for domestic fresh products which have short shelf lives and are free of additives. Although consumer demand remains price-sensitive, consumers have started to show interest in organic foods. A preference for new products is strong among the younger population, but a significant number of consumers remain "tasting level" buyers.
According to Global Trade Atlas Estonia is a net exporter of food products. Trade balance with the United States is also positive for Estonia. Estonia’s most important food imports are beverages, meat products, fruits and vegetables, coffee, tea, preserves of vegetables and fruits, and feed grains. Major U.S. exports, which have good market potential, include fish (roe and surimi), nuts (shelled almonds and pecans), baking ingredients such as dried vegetable ingredients (garlic and onions), dried fruit (cranberries, blueberries, or prunes), fruit (grapefruit or table grapes), wines, and distilled spirits.
Estonian food exports include dairy products, meat, fish, and beverages. The U.S. imports Estonian forest products, cheeses, frozen fish and fish preparations, as well as starch, glues, and cotton articles.
Since Estonia’s EU accession in 2004, the EU’s external customs tariffs now apply on imports to Estonia. The EU has strict sanitary and phyto-sanitary regulations for its products. Exporters should first examine whether their product is granted market access to the European Union. Some commodities such as beef, poultry, corn, rice, and processed products derived from those ingredients face significant barriers.
EU agricultural exports from European countries therefore face zero duties compared with Most Favored Nation (MFN) rates for U.S. exports. More detailed information on the current customs tariffs applicable in the EU.
Sub-sector Prospects for Agricultural Products
Note: All figures are in Thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated.
Data Source: Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS). The GATS does not track intra-EU transshipments only direct trade. Other best prospects are based on trade information and products presently on the market.
Tree Nuts (Consumer Oriented Product)
Hardwood Lumber (Forest Product)
Caviar, Surimi and Other Fish Products (Fish Products)
Leading Sub-Sectors
1. Tree Nuts
Tree nuts sourced from the United States consist primarily of almonds. Almonds are an increasingly popular ingredient in the confectionary, home baking and snack industries. The United States’ leading competitor on the Estonian market is Germany, which coordinates shipments from Spain but also from the U.S. Lithuania is another transshipping point for nuts from those two sources.
Commodity Group: Nuts (incl. Almonds and Walnuts)
Harmonized Schedule Code(s): HS 0802
Value in US$1,000
| Year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 f. | ||
| Total Imports | 9,226 | 8,273 | 9,021 | 9,100 | ||
| Total Imports from U.S. | 905 | 853 | 1,602 | 1,200 |
2. Forest Products
Estonia is a leading manufacturer of wood furniture for the European market. U.S. wood-based products are exported from Estonia mainly to the Scandinavian countries. Russia, Latvia, and Finland provide the main competition for the U.S. Estonia imports mostly ash and oak wood sawn or chipped from the U.S.
Commodity Group: Hardwood Lumber
Harmonized Schedule Code(s): HS 4407
Value in US$1,000
| Year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 f. |
| Total Imports | 231,076 | 249,452 | 302,069 | 340,000 |
| Total Imports from U.S. | 8,954 | 7,485 | 10,472 | 10,900 |
3. Seafood (Caviar, Alaska pollock)
Fish is traditionally an important part of the daily diet in Estonia. Estonian consumers are getting more product information now, and are benefiting from campaigns promoting consumption and the health benefits of fish and seafood, and are receptive to market promotions. With the growing importance of the seafood processing industry this market will continue to offer sales opportunities for U.S. exporters. In 2017 the value of imports of fish and seafood products from the United States amounted to U.S. 2.54 million, 10 percent lower than in 2016. In 2017 imports from the U.S. dropped because Estonian fish processing industry was hit by the Russian export ban. In the first four months of 2018 imports from the U.S. increased by four percent in comparison to the same period of 2017, because of higher imports of Alaska Pollock.
Commodity GroupCaviar, Alaska pollock, other Fish Products
Harmonized Schedule Code(s) HS 1604, 03, 1605
Value in US$1,000
| Year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 f. |
| Total Imports | 164,173 | 131,721 | 147,598 | 165,000 |
| Total Imports from U.S. | 3,415 | 2,829 | 2,538 | 2,650 |
Opportunities
Attaché reports provide information on market opportunities, crop conditions, new policy developments and information on the local food industry. Some standard reports include: Retail Market Report, Exporter Guide, Food Service Report, and market briefs on select products note Attaché reports . In recent years, many of the reports have been consolidated and are submitted as EU reports. We recommend that companies interested in the market covered by our Post also review the EU-28 reports.
Trade Data:
Please refer to: The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS). GATS includes international trade statistics on agricultural, fish, forest, and textile products, dating from the inception of the Harmonized coding system in 1989 to present.
Web Resources
Information on agricultural trade barriers can be found at the following website
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (regional office in Warsaw)