Balance of Payments in April 2012

Current account

In April, the deficit was EUR 0.9 billion, which is slightly less than a year ago. The aggregate current account for the previous 12 months posted a deficit of EUR 3.1 bn.

• In BOP terms, there was a surplus of EUR 0.1 bn in the balance of trade¹.
• There was a deficit posted on services to the amount of EUR 0.02 bn.
• The income account posted a deficit of EUR 0.8 bn.
• The current transfers account posted a deficit of EUR 0.2 bn.

¹ The data under 'Goods' in the balance of payments statistics differ from the National Board of Customs' foreign trade statistics. Freight and insurance costs, which appear in BOP service expenditures, are deducted from the National Board of Customs' cif-based goods imports. Goods produced in ports, including eg fuel, are added to both imports and exports.

Financial account

Investment was inward on net, in the amount of EUR 3.6 bn.

• There was a EUR 0.6 bn net inflow of capital in the form of direct investment.
• Portfolio investment was inward on net, in the amount of EUR 6.5 bn.
• Net outflow of EUR 3.3 billion in other investment (loans, deposits and trade credits).

Net international investment position at the end of April

The international investment position was a positive EUR 20 bn.

• Finnish residents’ foreign assets totalled EUR 714 bn.
• Finnish residents’ foreign liabilities totalled EUR 694 bn.

Net international investment position – excluding equity items – was a negative EUR 63 bn.