Tuonnin

Tuonnin is the Finnish term for imports, the act of bringing goods and services into Finland from abroad for sale, processing, or use. In national accounts, tuonnin arvo (the value of imports) is recorded as the counterpart to exports (viennin) and forms part of the current account and GDP calculations. The term is used in statistics, policy discussions, and economic analysis and is commonly contrasted with viennin.

Etymology: Tuonti comes from the verb tuoda “to bring,” with the genitive suffix -n to form tuonti; tuonnin denotes the genitive form, meaning “of import” or “imports.”

Economic role: Imports provide access to goods and inputs not produced domestically, supporting household consumption and industrial production. They influence domestic prices, productivity, and supply chains. In macroeconomics, tuonnin affects the balance of trade and can influence the exchange rate. The import mix includes consumer goods, intermediate goods for manufacturing, and capital goods for investment.

Measurement and policy: Statistics Finland and Eurostat collect data on tuonnin by commodity, partner country, and transport mode. Trade policy, tariffs, quotas, and regional agreements—most notably Finland’s EU membership since 1995—shape import levels. Global events and supply-chain dynamics can cause short-term fluctuations in tuonnin.

History and trends: Finland’s import patterns grew with industrialization and economic development. After joining the EU, integration with European and global markets further shaped tuonnin, with shifts toward machinery, energy, chemicals, and services in recent decades.