The flash estimate¹ put the Estonian current account at 251 million euros in deficit in January 2017. The cause of the deficit was large one-off import transactions for transport vehicles. The deficit on the goods and services account was 240 million euros. Goods exports grew by 9% and goods imports by 39%, so the deficit on the goods account widened to 342 million euros. Exports of services increased by 12% and imports by 10%, so the surplus on the services account was larger than a year previously at 102 million euros. The net outflow on the primary and secondary income accounts totalled 11 million euros, which was 36 million euros less than a year earlier.

The current and capital accounts were in deficit by a total of 220 million euros in January, meaning Estonia was a net borrower from the rest of the world. Loan liabilities increased and other investment assets were reduced in order to finance the deficit.

¹ The quarterly balance of payments is compiled from a combined system of representative primary data sources, including surveys of companies, while the monthly balance of payments draws from a considerably smaller database. Although the monthly report uses as much data available for the month reported as possible, including administrative data sources and reports on international payments, it is subjective to a certain degree, which is why it is called an estimate. Once the quarterly balance of payments is released, the monthly balances of payments are adjusted accordingly. For more on the principles used in compiling the flash estimate, see http://statistika.eestipank.ee/failid/mbo/kiir_mb_eng.html

Eesti Pank publishes the flash estimate of the balance of payments monthly for the last month but one. Eesti Pank will publish the balance of payments for the first quarter of 2017 on 8 June 2017.

Statistical releases are published by Eesti Pank together with statistical data. The release is independent of economic policy releases and is presented separately from them.

Additional information:
Sünne Korasteljov
Eesti Pank Statistics Department
Telephone: 668 0906
Email: [email protected]