Swedish exports decreased seven percent in the past year, yet trade was comparatively buoyant in the last quarter of 2013 compared to the months prior.
The value of Swedish exports amounted to 1.09 billion kronor ($167 million) in 2013, new trade figures published by Statistics Sweden (Statistiska centralbyrån - SCB) ."During the fourth quarter, Swedish exports of goods decreased by three percent compared to the same period of the previous year," the state agency said in a statement. "Both exports and imports developed stronger during the fourth quarter compared to the earlier quarters of 2013."
Swedish trade with other EU member states fell by six percent, while exports to euro zone countries fell by four percent. Exports to the UK fell by 21 percent, while exports to Germany and Denmark decreased by five and two percent respectively.
Trade with China, however, saw an export increase of five percent, while imports from China fell by two percent.
In 2013, the agency summarized, there was a "net trade surplus of 51 billion kronor ($7.8 billion). The net trade surplus in 2012 was 59 billion."
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