Discusses key economic indicators and trade statistics, which countries are dominant in the market, the U.S. market share, the political situation if relevant, the top reasons why U.S. companies should consider exporting to this country, and other issues that affect trade, e.g., terrorism, currency devaluations, trade agreements.
Last Published: 5/29/2019

Finland, an EU member since 1995, has redefined itself from a quiet agriculture and forestry based economy to a trend setting global center for technology and design. The country is highly integrated into the global economy with international trade accounting for a third of its GDP. Finland’s commercial clout far exceeds its modest population of 5.5 million. The IMF estimates Finland’s GDP is about $257.4 billion with nominal per capita GDP of $46,600 (slightly higher than Canada or Germany). It is the only Nordic country that uses the Euro.
Finland routinely ranks at the very top of international surveys on education, quality of life, competitiveness and transparency. It sits at the epicenter of Europe’s “New North” – a unique intersection of geography, infrastructure, education, good governance, and high-technology industries. Helsinki, the second most northern capital in the world, has easy connections by rail, sea and air to Tallinn, St. Petersburg and Stockholm.
Finland shares an 833 mile long border and a complicated history with Russia. Despite Russia’s occupation of the Crimea region of Ukraine and sanctions and counter-sanctions affecting bilateral trade, Finland maintains an important commercial relationship with its larger, more populous neighbor. Many Finnish companies have successful longstanding business operations in Russia.
The European Union makes up more than 60 percent of Finland’s total trade. The largest trade flows are with Germany and Sweden. Finland’s key export sectors are transportation, electronics, forestry, machinery, and chemicals. Trade policy is managed by the European Union, where trade dependent Finland has traditionally been an advocate for free trade policies.
Currently, the United States represents the third largest market for Finnish exports and Finland’s seventh largest source of imports. In 2018 , two-way trade in goods and services between the United States and Finland was over $12 billion. Two-way trade in goods totaled $9.0  billion, with U.S. goods exports to Finland totaling $1.87  billion and Finnish goods exports to the United States totaling $ 7.17  billion, chiefly computer equipment and electronics, transportation equipment, chemicals, forestry products, and machinery. Two-way trade in services totaled $4.9 billion, with U.S. service exports to Finland totaling $2.1 billion and Finnish service exports to the United States reaching $2.8 billion.
https://United States Census Bureau
https://Statistics Finland
https://apps.bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?ReqID=62&step=1#reqid=62&step=9&isuri=1&6210=4
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.